The vintage

2013

Hard in Bordeaux, superb in Piedmont

Delivery in 7–10 working days, tracked · transit cover optional at checkout

The 2013 vintage, rated

Hard in Bordeaux, superb in Piedmont

In 2026 a bottle from 2013 marks a 13th birthday or anniversary

The vintage

Good · 3/5

Bordeaux had its most difficult year in a generation - a cold, wet spring, rot at harvest - and the reds are light and early-drinking, though Sauternes is fine. Burgundy is fresh and better than its reputation, especially the whites. The year belongs to Italy: Barolo and Barbaresco 2013 are classic, fragrant and long-lived, and Brunello is very good. Champagne had a late harvest that suited Chardonnay well.

What we would buy, and why

For a thirteenth birthday, go to Piedmont: a Barolo 2013 is a serious bottle that will keep for decades. White Burgundy 2013 is the choice for something to open sooner. Red Bordeaux 2013 is best avoided unless it is a Sauternes, however tempting the name.

2013 in the world

In March Jorge Mario Bergoglio became Pope Francis, the first pope from the Americas. In July Andy Murray won Wimbledon, the first British man to do so since 1936.

Best bets for 2013

  • Barolo or Barbaresco 2013 - a classic, long-lived year
  • Brunello di Montalcino 2013 - very good and elegant
  • White Burgundy 2013 - fresh and precise
  • Sauternes 2013 - the bright spot in Bordeaux

How we grade a bottle

Fill level, label, capsule and cork, then provenance. Every bottle is checked by hand by people who have handled thousands of old bottles, and we write down the flaws as well as the good news. What the fill levels mean · How to choose a birth-year wine

Real people, not a chatbot

Ask a person about this year

The people who answer are the same people who check and pack the bottles. Ask for photographs, a condition report or advice on a year and you get a straight answer from the ANNO team, Monday to Friday, 9:00 to 18:00 CET.