As Chinese New Year approaches (in 2026, it falls on 17 February), we take a look back at past vintages that were produced in a Year of the Horse, the Zodiac symbol of this new Lunar Year. But before we go galloping into the wine, we delve into meaning of the Fire Horse.
Year of the Horse
The Horse is the seventh sign in the Chinese Zodiac, symbolising energy, elegance, and independence. This year, we’re entering into a Year of the Fire Horse, which occurs every 60 years. With the last one being in 1966, you might want to check out these wines from this vintage, especially if a special person in your life was born that year! A fire horse is an intense combination as they are extremely driven and magnetic, rebellious, natural leaders and trailblazers.
In Chinese culture, horses symbolise success, loyalty, endurance, and speed. They’re closely tied to victory, imperial travel, and warrior culture. When depicted in art, horses are often running freely, representing power and grace.
Wines that embody the characteristics of the Zodiac horse are Burgundy Pinot Noir as it’s refined, expressive and elegant and Syrah from the northern Rhône – especially for this year of a Fire Horse – due to its peppery, powerful, and charismatic nature.
Horse vintages
Previous horse vintages in the 20th and 21st centuries include 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002 and 2014. We’ll take a deeper look at the most recent ones, selecting the regions you just have to try from each vintage.
2014
2014 can be described as one of the most challenging years of the decade in France, with cold weather most of the year and a last-ditch, but welcomed warm summer, which added a great finesse to the wines in most French regions. Just like the Horse which brings challenges to overcome and rewards perseverance and endurance, wines from the Bordeaux and Burgundy regions are now showing their remarkable tenacity and beautiful flavours as they enjoy being in the middle of their peak. The Rhone and the Loire valleys echo the strength of the Horse by bringing powerful enduring reds and long complex whites.
Elsewhere, the Napa Valley produced an outstanding 2014 vintage, considered one of the best in the last two decades, especially for Cabernet Sauvignon. The wines are praised for their balance, aromatic tension, and vivid finish, lighting the way for ageing.
2002
2002 was a stellar year for in Burgundy, the Loire Valley, and Germany, but we’re going to focus on the bright star that is Champagne. That year, the weather was near-perfect, with a dry, warm spring and summer that was not too hot, creating exceptional grapes that would go on to become exceptional Champagnes.
This vintage is so extraordinary that the wines are simply exemplary. Salon Le Mesnil delivers a crystalline expression of Chardonnay, combining chalky minerality, citrus freshness and a remarkably persistent finish. Often regarded as one of Louis Roederer’s greatest successes, Cristal offers a silky texture, refined citrus and white-fruit notes, and a saline, mineral backbone of great elegance. Meanwhile, the vinous and expressive Bollinger R.D. reveals roasted fruit, hazelnut and spice aromas, carried by a structured palate and a long, energetic, dosage-free finish.
Champagnes from this vintage are in their prime opening window at the moment and so you are absolutely spoilt for choice!
1990
This is an exceptional and historical vintage both for its quality and its quantity, one of the top vintages of the century as some say. Looking to each of France’s viticultural regions, we can say that 1990 was a great vintage. In Bordeaux, it was the second hottest year of the century (right after 1947) and the second sunniest vintage (after 1949). This exceptional warmth required the winemakers to keep an eye on the grapes, so they could retain their acidity to produce exceptional wines for ageing, with ripe tannins and concentration. Luckily, 1990 was also a wet year in Bordeaux, which helped balance things out. The most successful wines come from areas with more compact soils that had the capacity to retain the moisture (think Saint Emilion, Pomerol, Saint Estèphe, and Saint Julien). The reds produced are full bodied while presenting silky tannins. Whites from the great terroirs such as Château Haut Brion are mind blowing and sauternes also show great concentrations.
Looking towards Burgundy, 1990 also spoils us with great quality. Despite some heavy rain, complex and deeply coloured reds were produced with good ageing potential. The Côtes de Nuits did especially well (we recommend Vosne-Romanée, Gevrey-Chambertin, and Chambolle-Musigny). For white wines, the results are more homogeneous, but Corton Charlemagne enjoyed success, along with Meursault and Puligny-Montrachet.
1990 was also a great vintage in the Rhone Valley. Both me north and the south of the valley stand outs for the reds, while one should look mostly to the north for white wines from the Condrieu appellation.
Champagne producers also consider the 1990 vintage to be among the vintages of the century in the region.
1978
1978 was an outstanding year for several regions. In France, Bordeaux, Burgundy, Champagne and the Rhône Valley enjoyed stellar years, as did Piedmont, California and Margaret River in Western Australia.
In France, the 1978 growing season is remembered as one of the great classic vintages of the late twentieth century. Following a cold winter and a cool, slightly unsettled spring saw flowering proceed without major incident, setting the stage for a warm, dry and remarkably even summer. Crucially, fine weather continued into September and October, enabling growers to harvest at optimal ripeness with healthy acidity and well-developed tannins. The resulting wines are defined by their structure, balance and longevity rather than overt opulence.
Names to look out for include Château Latour, Château La Mission Haut-Brion, Domaine Armand Rousseau, Domaine Comte Georges de Vogüé, Dom Pérignon and Jaboulet’s Hermitage La Chapelle.
The Nebbiolos produced in Barolo & Barbaresco are powerful and structured in a classic style.
The 1978 Margaret River wines – especially its iconic Cabernet Sauvignons – are celebrated for their elegant structure, vibrant blackcurrant and cedar notes, and remarkable longevity.
Meanwhile, Californian wines, particularly its Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignons, are renowned for their bold, ripe fruit flavours, supple tannins, and balanced acidity.
Shop wines from horse vintages
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