Current Vintage Report

The Current Burgundy Briefing Vintage Report is an in-depth assessment with tasting notes (360 pages) of the 2018 vintage on the Côte d’Or.

The hot and dry season has produced dark, rich reds with plentiful ripe tannins and alcohol, softish but not lacking in energy. Many have ‘slipped south’ in style and while others, picked earlier and with little extraction, are lighter.  There is a marked division in style.

The whites are more consistent in style, fresher and slimmer than expected given the hot summer. Ripe, but not rich. 

The report has become a valuable tool for buying these expensive wines, but remans true its original concept to be an engaging insight into the region, aimed at those who wish to keep informed about Burgundy’s latest vintage and terroir.

Vintage Vantage Point

  • Style

  • Quality

  • Vintage comparions

  • Ageing capacity and when to drink

  • The defining factors of the season which have shaped the wines

  • Analysis: Considering sugar, acidity and tannins and how they are balanced

  • Observations in the winery

  • Villages and vineyards:

  • An overview of each of the principal villages on the Côte d’Or; the style and quality of the village wines, highlighting specific 1er cru and grand cru  

  • Sweet spots

Tasting Notes

The bulk of the report consists of 277 pages of tasting notes with introductions to the 100 or so visits to domaines and a few negociants.  I have marked out of 100 (however I find marking out of 20 offers more scope at the upper end and works better for the calibre of wines at the Burgundy domaines I visit, so have included this too.)  An asterisk marks wines which stood out in each cellar.

Selection of 150 wines

  • Good Value

  • Good price/quality ratio (minimum 95 points) 

  • A few selected for top quality irrespective of price and others for great terroir expression

Older Vintages

As usual I include some flights of past vintage to evaluate how the vintages are maturing. These flights go onto the website in due course, but are included in the report so they are not overlooked by subscribers. There are some accompanying films in the vineyard which can be found in the films section of the website. 

 

  • Domaine  de L’Arlot, Nuits-Saint-Georges, 1er Cru Clos des Forêts Saint Georges 2017-98, 96 & 93

  • Domaine Bouchard Père et Fils, Volnay 1er Cru Caillerets Ancienne Cuvée Carnot 2017-2010, 06, 05, 03, 99, 90

  • Domaine Marc Colin, Chassagne-Montrachet, 1er Cru Caillerets 2017-2000, 96, 95, 79 &  76

  • Domaine Fernand & Laurent Pillot, Meursault 1er Cru Caillerets 2017-2001

  • Maison Louis Latour, Meursault Blagny, 1er Cru 2018 – 2010, 07, 06, 05, 02-99, 96, 95, 90 and 89

  • Maison Champy, Pernand-Vergelesses 1er Cru Ile de Vergelesses & Beaune 1er Cru, Aux Cras

Purchase Vintage Reports

The Current Vintage Report (2018) can be purchased for £85. The vintage report will be emailed as pdfs on receipt of payment via Paypal. If you wish to purchase it by cheque or by bank transfer, please contact me by email. The pdfs are sent manually, so please be patient if you do not receive it immediately, particularly in May, June and October when I am in Burgundy.