Burgundy Vintages — 10/01/2012

Tim Clarke’s Burgundy Vintages Report

A first look at the 2011s shows that it is a reasonably good year. The 2010s look wonderful; surprisingly for the year was not without its problems, but this could be one of the best vintages for a long time. The 2009s will please those looking for relatively big, juicy wines and the 2008s will please those who are looking for a neater style. The 2007s are drinking very well indeed, but they are for drinking young, rather than for long ageing or investing in. The 2006s are more difficult. The evaluation of the great 2005 vintage is unchanged. The 2004s are drinking well and should be drunk! The 2003s are very mixed, stylistically and in terms of their quality. The 2002s have emerged from their dumb phase and are very fine.

See Arblaster & Clarke’s wine tours in Burgundy

Notes Revised January 2012.

2009 was initially trumpeted by many as a great vintage, a couple of years down the line, rather it looks to be just very good.

A cold winter had enforced deep dormancy in the vines. Spring rain laid down good reserves of water in the soil that would prove useful in the hot summer. Flowering took place in perfect conditions in early June. In early summer the hot and humid weather was interspersed with thunderstorms and localised severe hail. (The hail was worst in Pouilly Fuissé and parts of the Côte de Nuits). August was beautiful; there was little rain and it was hot, dry and sunny….

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