Vintages in Burgundy Flashcards
2015 in Burgundy
Low yields and warm weather allowed for ample ripeness, small berries and an early harvest. Quality is looking extremely fine, with some people whispering comparisons with the outstanding 2005 vintage. Acid levels in individual wines may be crucial.
2014 in Burgundy
An unusually mild winter (this was the year of the Asian fruit fly) preceded an unusually early start to the season. Flowering took place in settled conditions and all seemed set fair for a year of good quantity at last, and an early harvest. Except that the summer was miserably cool and wet (and a dramatic hailstorm on 28 June wreaked havoc on the Côte de Beaune for the third year running) so that growers needed every ray of sunshine in a fine September to recoup their losses. Wines are relatively light.
An unusually mild winter (this was the year of the Asian fruit fly) preceded an unusually early start to the season. Flowering took place in settled conditions and all seemed set fair for a year of good quantity at last, and an early harvest. Except that the summer was miserably cool and wet (and a dramatic hailstorm on 28 June wreaked havoc on the Côte de Beaune for the third year running) so that growers needed every ray of sunshine in a fine September to recoup their losses. Wines are relatively light.
2014 vintage in Burgundy
Low yields and warm weather allowed for ample ripeness, small berries and an early harvest. Quality is looking extremely fine, with some people whispering comparisons with the outstanding 2005 vintage. Acid levels in individual wines may be crucial.
2015 vintage in Burgundy
2013 vintage in Burgundy
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.
“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 _____ looks to be soft tannins.”
2012 vintage in Burgundy
2012 vintage for Burgundy
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.
Disappointing quality with widespread rot and uneven weather conditions throughout the year. The results can be surprisingly good in parts, but ____ is a much safer bet.
2011 vintage in Burgundy
2011 vintage in Burgundy
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.
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.
2010 vintage for Burgundy
“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.” Jancis
“A warm spring with some hail in the northern part of the Côte de Nuits. After an even flowering and a warm June, the summer arrived with variable July weather. Fortunately August was fine with a period of hot weather in the second week. September started with some rain, then became fine and warm again. A harvest of healthy, ripe grapes followed. The _____s have all the structure packed in with rich, luscious fruit. Comparable to the 2005s. Great wines.” Christies
2009 vintage for Burgundy
2009 vintage in Burgundy
“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.” Jancis
“A warm spring with some hail in the northern part of the Côte de Nuits. After an even flowering and a warm June, the summer arrived with variable July weather. Fortunately August was fine with a period of hot weather in the second week. September started with some rain, then became fine and warm again. A harvest of healthy, ripe grapes followed. The 2009s have all the structure packed in with rich, luscious fruit. Comparable to the 2005s. Great wines.” Christies
“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.” — Jancis
“An indifferent spring caused uneven flowering and mildew risk. At the end of June the weather changed for the better, continuing into July. Apart from local hail in the Côte de Beaune at the end of July, the summer began well. August arrived fairly cold and variable, but fortunately the last week of the month brought fine, warm weather. The lead-up to harvest saw sunny skies, apart from two days of rain in mid-September. A challenging vintage.” Christies
WS 91
2008 vintage in Burgundy
“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.” — Jancis
“An indifferent spring caused uneven flowering and mildew risk. At the end of June the weather changed for the better, continuing into July. Apart from local hail in the Côte de Beaune at the end of July, the summer began well. August arrived fairly cold and variable, but fortunately the last week of the month brought fine, warm weather. The lead-up to harvest saw sunny skies, apart from two days of rain in mid-September. A challenging vintage.” Christies
WS 91
2008 vintage in Burgundy
2008 vintage in Burgundy
“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.” — Jancis
“An indifferent spring caused uneven flowering and mildew risk. At the end of June the weather changed for the better, continuing into July. Apart from local hail in the Côte de Beaune at the end of July, the summer began well. August arrived fairly cold and variable, but fortunately the last week of the month brought fine, warm weather. The lead-up to harvest saw sunny skies, apart from two days of rain in mid-September. A challenging vintage.” Christies
WS 91
“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.” — Jancis
Burgundy
WS 90
2007 vintage in Burgundy
2007 vintage for Burgundy
“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.” — Jancis
WS 90
“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.” — Jancis
WS 91
What vintage in Burgundy?
2006
2006 vintage in Burgundy
“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.” — Jancis
WS 91
“As in Bordeaux, a quite exceptionally good vintage, although many wines may go through a prolonged stage of chewy adolescence.” — Jancis
“Ripe and dense, yet pure and balanced, with plenty of structure. A sensational vintage with longevity; ranks among the best since 1978”
WS 98
What vintage in Burgundy?
2005
2005 vintage in Burgundy
“As in Bordeaux, a quite exceptionally good vintage, although many wines may go through a prolonged stage of chewy adolescence.” — Jancis
“Ripe and dense, yet pure and balanced, with plenty of structure. A sensational vintage with longevity; ranks among the best since 1978”
WS 98
“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.” — Jancis
“The best wines are elegant, pure and balanced, despite difficult growing conditions”
WS 88
2004
2004 vintage for Burgundy
“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.” — Jancis
“The best wines are elegant, pure and balanced, despite difficult growing conditions”
WS 88
“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.” — Jancis
“Exotic, ripe and concentrated; the best are destined to be classics”
WS 93
What vintage in Burgundy?
2003 vintage in Burgundy
2003 vintage in Burgundy
“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.” — Jancis
“Exotic, ripe and concentrated; the best are destined to be classics”
WS 93
“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.” — Jancis
“A wonderful vintage of pure, rich, stylish reds and soft, rounded whites.” — Christies
WS 96
What vintage in Burgundy?
2002 vintage for Burgundy
2002 vintage in Burgundy
“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.” — Jancis
“A wonderful vintage of pure, rich, stylish reds and soft, rounded whites.” — Christies
WS 96
“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.” — Jancis
“Lean, structured reds, yet ripe and potentially long-lived”
WS 89
What vintage in Burgundy?
2001
2001 vintage in Burgundy
“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.” — Jancis
“Lean, structured reds, yet ripe and potentially long-lived”
WS 89
“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.”
“Top wines are ripe, soft and seductive; many lack structure.”
WS 86
What vintage in Burgundy?
2000
2000 vintage in Burgundy
“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.”
“Top wines are ripe, soft and seductive; many lack structure.”
WS 86
