Burgundy - Red - Jancis

Question 1

2013

Answer 1

Red - A frigid spring delayed flowering and led to uneven ripening. Producers battled with hail (particularly in the Côte de Beaune) and summer downpours, but, despite the naysaying, a drier September allowed a small crop of balanced fruit with good potential.

White - A disappointment to Burgundy’s Chardonnay growers who had hoped for higher volumes than 2012. Instead, a short crop thanks to the cold spring was diminished still further by the careful fruit selection required after an erratic summer. All in all, producers intent on quality have acquitted themselves well.

Question 2

2013

Answer 2

Red - A frigid spring delayed flowering and led to uneven ripening. Producers battled with hail (particularly in the Côte de Beaune) and summer downpours, but, despite the naysaying, a drier September allowed a small crop of balanced fruit with good potential.

Question 3

2012

Answer 3

Red - Blighted by rot, as a damp summer across Europe made conditions hard for vignerons, with mildew a particular problem. The weather was erratic and bizarre, with heatwaves, hail, a cold spring, thunderstorms and all manner of meteorological mischief. The net results are very low volumes of variable quality – but overall vignerons are surprised and delighted by what resulted. One hallmark of 2012 looks to be soft tannins.

Question 4

2011

Answer 4

Disappointing quality with widespread rot and uneven weather conditions throughout the year. The results can be surprisingly good in parts, but 2010 is a much safer bet.

Question 5

2010

Answer 5

A return to the high acid norm after 2009, and some very good quality - especially in the Côte de Nuits - but volumes up to a third lower than average.

Question 6

2009

Answer 6

Finally, the Burgundians enjoyed a comparatively dry growing season with consistent warmth and no early season hail damage. Low acidity and ripe tannins should make these reds drinkable early.

Question 7

2008

Answer 7

An accursed vintage in Burgundy, with coulure, mildew and hail all conspiring to damage yields and quality. Late September sunshine went some way to rescue the crop, however, although high acidity remains the hallmark of this vintage.

Question 8

2007

Answer 8

A dank summer led to rotten Pinot Noir grapes and the need for extremely strict selection. The vintage is unlikely to notch up record scores.

Question 9

2006

Answer 9

Poor summer with vine health problems produced wines which at their best are very pure and expressive and at their worst just a bit too austere for comfort.

Question 10

2005

Answer 10

As in Bordeaux, a quite exceptionally good vintage, although many wines may go through a prolonged stage of chewy adolescence.

Question 11

2004

Answer 11

Large vintage of far from flashy but pretty serviceable and certainly good value wines. Relatively light and crisp, for early drinking though the best may surprise in the long run.

Question 12

2003

Answer 12

A small proportion of monumental wines from old vines were produced this heatwave year, but generally the frail Pinot Noir grape suffered raisining and made some very unusual wines indeed, some of which provide good, luscious drinking at about five years old but dry tannins are expected to make their presence increasingly felt.

Question 13

2002

Answer 13

Good vintage. Summer was not especially hot, though it was reasonably dry. Sugar levels were boosted in September but some grapes were adversely affected by scattered rains then. Sugar levels were quite respectable in the end and most wines showed their charms at an early stage.

Question 14

2001

Answer 14

Wet summer with some heat spikes. As for red bordeaux from this vintage, a gentle hand was needed in the winery to retain delicacy and not emphasize the already notable tannins. Quite varied quality. Wines from low-yielding grapes will provide exciting long-term drinking but others are gawky. August hail in Volnay.

Question 15

2000

Answer 15

A difficult vintage for growers, with rain and rot during harvest. Rather soft, easy wines that were more successful in the Côte de Nuits than in much of the Côte de Beaune. Useful early drinking but showing signs of losing fruit by 2008.

Question 16

1999

Answer 16

Exceptional quality and quantity. Powerful, charming and well balanced with great concentration and colour - particularly in the Côte de Beaune. The Côte de Nuits was hampered by a little more rain. Tannins and pigments achieved sumptuous ripeness. A vintage to drink young or old.

Question 17

1998

Answer 17

Thick skins made for good colours but pretty tough and stolid wines in general.

Question 18

1997

Answer 18

Charming, early-drinking wines – most should have been drunk by now.

Question 19

1996

Answer 19

Remarkably high acidity has made its presence increasingly felt over the years in bottle. Some wines just too tart for comfort; others may eventually bloom.

Question 20

1995

Answer 20

Reduced crop of initially rather austere wines which took on fat in bottle and can provide delicious drinking now.

Question 21

1994

Answer 21

A year to highlight Burgundy’s infamy for variability as too many let yields balloon after the rains.

Question 22

1993

Answer 22

Underrated. Better than average: healthy grapes and well-coloured, fruity wines that have lasted and developed well.

Question 23

1992

Answer 23

Rain at the wrong time again. Soft, tender wines to drink young.

Question 24

1991

Answer 24

Grapes had ripened before it rained and some wines from the Côtes de Nuits are excellent. Not to be overlooked.

Question 25

1990

Answer 25

A great success: rich and fragrant. The top vineyards made majestic wines but some lesser wines lacked lusciousness.

Question 26

1989

Answer 26

Nearly up to 1990, if not as intense. Some real charmers.

Question 27

1988

Answer 27

Tough and unusually backward, most are densely concentrated and the best repaid 20 years’ wait.

Question 28

1987

Answer 28

Natural ripeness was a problem so many overchaptalised.

Question 29

1986

Answer 29

A very tricky year of rain and rot. Careful growers avoided the dilution but not a year to seek out.

Question 30

1985

Answer 30

A problem-free year: delicious and fragrant young, but most should have been drunk.

Question 31

1984

Answer 31

Poor weather and unripe grapes. One to avoid.

Question 32

1983

Answer 32

A torrid summer and very mixed bag. A handful are brilliant but most aretainted by rot.

Question 33

1982

Answer 33

Large yields of soft, pleasant wines best drunk young.

Question 34

1980

Answer 34

Underestimated at first: balanced and scented, though most are past it now.

Question 35

1978

Answer 35

A late but uniformly good crop. Top growers made breathtaking wines. Now very rare.

Question 36

2012

Answer 36

Red - Blighted by rot, as a damp summer across Europe made conditions hard for vignerons, with mildew a particular problem. The weather was erratic and bizarre, with heatwaves, hail, a cold spring, thunderstorms and all manner of meteorological mischief. The net results are very low volumes of variable quality – but overall vignerons are surprised and delighted by what resulted. One hallmark of 2012 looks to be soft tannins.

White - Produced very low volumes of Chardonnay in Burgundy. What there is, however, is being welcomed with cautious enthusiasm. As with the reds, poor quality was expected after such challenging weather conditions, but the first tastings indicated the wines are very good. A triumph against adversity, perhaps?

Question 37

2011

Answer 37

Red - Disappointing quality with widespread rot and uneven weather conditions throughout the year. The results can be surprisingly good in parts, but 2010 is a much safer bet.

White - Less ripe than the previous two vintages, needing chaptalisation in many cases. Chaotic weather made this a tricky vintage overall.

Question 38

2010

Answer 38

Red - A return to the high acid norm after 2009, and some very good quality - especially in the Côte de Nuits - but volumes up to a third lower than average.

White - High acidity, after the more opulent style of the 2009s. A small, ripe crop - although a storm in early September did produce some rot, so sorting was crucial - as ever.

Question 39

2009

Answer 39

Red - Finally, the Burgundians enjoyed a comparatively dry growing season with consistent warmth and no early season hail damage. Low acidity and ripe tannins should make these reds drinkable early.

White - Good, healthy and high quality across the region. Warm conditions and fairly large yields have given balanced grapes, and most agree 2009 whites are at least on a par with 2005.

Question 40

2008

Answer 40

Red - An accursed vintage in Burgundy, with coulure, mildew and hail all conspiring to damage yields and quality. Late September sunshine went some way to rescue the crop, however, although high acidity remains the hallmark of this vintage.

White - Challenging climatic conditions abounded throughout the season, leading to high acidity that gives these whites a particular freshness. Challenging, then, but as ever the best producers have made some spectacular wines.

Question 41

2007

Answer 41

Red - A dank summer led to rotten Pinot Noir grapes and the need for extremely strict selection. The vintage is unlikely to notch up record scores.

White - Another challenging summer with no shortage of rain but for once Chardonnay flowered after Pinot Noir and was more reliably saved by the drying winds that arrived in late August. Crisper whites than in 2005 and 2006.

Question 42

2006

Answer 42

Red - Poor summer with vine health problems produced wines which at their best are very pure and expressive and at their worst just a bit too austere for comfort.

White - Poor summer was followed by much-needed fine weather in early September producing a relatively consistent crop of early-maturing, quite fleshy whites.

Question 43

2005

Answer 43

Red - As in Bordeaux, a quite exceptionally good vintage, although many wines may go through a prolonged stage of chewy adolescence.

White - Very concentrated wines that should last much longer than most white burgundy vintages. Promising indeed.

Question 44

2004

Answer 44

Red - Large vintage of far from flashy but pretty serviceable and certainly good value wines. Relatively light and crisp, for early drinking though the best may surprise in the long run.

White - Acid levels are relatively high and these are not massive wines so are best for classicists who like their white burgundy to be quite angular.

Question 45

2003

Answer 45

Red - A small proportion of monumental wines from old vines were produced this heatwave year, but generally the frail Pinot Noir grape suffered raisining and made some very unusual wines indeed, some of which provide good, luscious drinking at about five years old but dry tannins are expected to make their presence increasingly felt.

White - A very difficult year with exceptionally low levels of acid, some of them made from grapes that shrivelled rather than ripened. Curious.

Question 46

2002

Answer 46

Red - Good vintage. Summer was not especially hot, though it was reasonably dry. Sugar levels were boosted in September but some grapes were adversely affected by scattered rains then. Sugar levels were quite respectable in the end and most wines showed their charms at an early stage.

White - Good quality and quantity.

Question 47

2001

Answer 47

Red - Wet summer with some heat spikes. As for red bordeaux from this vintage, a gentle hand was needed in the winery to retain delicacy and not emphasize the already notable tannins. Quite varied quality. Wines from low-yielding grapes will provide exciting long-term drinking but others are gawky. August hail in Volnay.

White - Erratic weather produced some rot but also some surprisingly good white wines, if not for the long term, as well as some rather thin, disappointing ones. A variable vintage that rewarded those who limited yields. Devastating hail in parts of the Côte Chalonnaise.

Question 48

2000

Answer 48

Red - A difficult vintage for growers, with rain and rot during harvest. Rather soft, easy wines that were more successful in the Côte de Nuits than in much of the Côte de Beaune. Useful early drinking but showing signs of losing fruit by 2008.

White - Extremely ripe, sometimes too ripe, healthy grapes with fairly good acidity that were able to charm even in their youth. Especially good for Chablis and the Mâconnais.

Question 49

1999

Answer 49

Red - Exceptional quality and quantity. Powerful, charming and well balanced with great concentration and colour - particularly in the Côte de Beaune. The Côte de Nuits was hampered by a little more rain. Tannins and pigments achieved sumptuous ripeness. A vintage to drink young or old.

White - Large crop ripened by fine weather in late August and early September. Generally slightly crisper than the 2000s and the best may last longer - if they are allowed to.

Question 50

1998

Answer 50

Red - Thick skins made for good colours but pretty tough and stolid wines in general.

White - Everything went wrong: frost, hail, powdery mildew. Respectable, considering.

Question 51

1996

Answer 51

Red - Remarkably high acidity has made its presence increasingly felt over the years in bottle. Some wines just too tart for comfort; others may eventually bloom.

White - As with the reds, acidity is the keynote. The best-balanced are stunning but some are a bit meagre.

Question 52

1995

Answer 52

Red - Reduced crop of initially rather austere wines which took on fat in bottle and can provide delicious drinking now.

White - Very small crop producing wines with real concentration.