It is certainly interesting to see how different varieties respond to different weather extremes... especially since the weather seems to get more extreme every year one way or the other.
On one hand there is the theory of site adaptation, that over years and/or by growing from bulbils, the variety will adapt to conditions... but how well can they adapt to extreme variations from year to year?
Garlic has such a long season, they have the best opportunity of any crop to experience unusual weather both winter and spring and summer....