[TangledUpInBlue]

Maybe holster your smart ass mouth and see my post at 27. I have seen it first hand and witness fine people struggle with it year after year. You make cute snide snarky remarks but offer no first hand evidence. I’ve lived it.

You find a bottle of Bordeaux from the 1980’s - I bet the alcohol level is about 12.5 - 13%. Find one from 2009 or 2015 and I bet it’s 14 - 15%. More heat = more ripeness. More ripeness = more sugar. More sugar = more alcohol in the finished wine.

[jjotto]

Yeast development. Yeast tolerates higher levels of alcohol than it used to.

[Bonemaker]

Vintners are a form of farmer aren't they? And in the wine connoisseur world there have always been preferred vintages for one reason or another....pests, weather etc.The problem is the politicizing of the forces of nature for nefarious ends. By the way, my favorite is Chateau Suduiraut Sauterne ca 1950's.