Burgundy Red Wine Vintage Chart: 1978 to 2022
2022
A good to excellent vintage that offers ripe, well-fruited, classical Pinot Noir for medium to long-term drinking. See Matthew Hayes' detailed report here.
2021
A growing season plagued by misfortune - a hard frost during budbreak, a wet and cool spring, powdery mildew, botrytis, and rain near harvest. The saving grace of this vintage was sunshine that arrived in early September, allowing the minuscule crop to reach maturity. Light, elegant wines with relatively low tannins and alcohol. Best for early drinking. See Matthew Hayes' detailed report here.
2020
A warm, dry growing season with minimal disease pressure led to impeccable fruit quality. Deeply coloured, richly fruited wines with moderate alcohols and beautifully balanced acidities. A vintage with excellent potential for long-ageing. See Matthew Hayes' detailed report here.
2019
A very warm growing season with a number of heatwaves that lowered yields. Pinot Noirs are reliably good to excellent and have the concentration for medium to long-term drinking. See Jancis's detailed report here.
2018
A usefully wet winter preceded a very hot summer. This heatwave vintage at last produced relatively generous volumes. The fruit ripened to such a reliable extent that distinctions between climat and even quality levels seemed a little blurred in some cases, so this is a vintage where village and even regional wines are worth exploring. Juicy, generally fruity, flattering wines with a question mark over their potential for ageing.
2017
Like Alsace, most of Burgundy celebrated a bounteous harvest in 2017, in contrast to much of frost-stricken France (and unlucky Chablis). A relatively early harvest has resulted in fruity reds with moderate acidity and soft tannins. Some optimists made tentative comparisons to 2002 or 1999. Regardless of quality, the growers were certainly happy with the yields.
2016
Hail, frost and mildew all made 2016 an extremely difficult year for makers of red burgundy. Yields were universally low, and the fruit had less concentration than in 2015. Beyond that, generalisations are impossible due to the complicated meteorological patterns throughout the year, creating very varied conditions in each sub-region.
2015
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
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.
2013
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.
2012
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.
2011
Disappointing quality was expected from this early season plagued by summer rain but the wines turned out surprisingly well and a tasting of top wines in 2022 was very encouraging even if 2010 may be more consistent.
2010
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.
2009
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.
2008
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.
2007
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.
2006
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.
2005
As in Bordeaux, a quite exceptionally good vintage, although many wines may go through a prolonged stage of chewy adolescence.
2004
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.
2003
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.
2002
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.
2001
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.
2000
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.
1999
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.
1998
Thick skins made for good colours but pretty tough and stolid wines in general.
1997
Charming, early-drinking wines – most should have been drunk by now.
1996
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.
1995
Reduced crop of initially rather austere wines which took on fat in bottle and can provide delicious drinking now.
1994
A year to highlight Burgundy's infamy for variability as too many let yields balloon after the rains.
1993
Underrated. Better than average: healthy grapes and well-coloured, fruity wines that have lasted and developed well.
1992
Rain at the wrong time again. Soft, tender wines to drink young.
1991
Grapes had ripened before it rained and some wines from the Côtes de Nuits are excellent. Not to be overlooked.
1990
A great success: rich and fragrant. The top vineyards made majestic wines but some lesser wines lacked lusciousness.
1989
Nearly up to 1990, if not as intense. Some real charmers.
1988
Tough and unusually backward, most are densely concentrated and the best repaid 20 years’ wait.
1987
Natural ripeness was a problem so many overchaptalised.
1986
A very tricky year of rain and rot. Careful growers avoided the dilution but not a year to seek out.
1985
A problem-free year: delicious and fragrant young, but most should have been drunk.
1984
Poor weather and unripe grapes. One to avoid.
1983
A torrid summer and very mixed bag. A handful are brilliant but most are tainted by rot.
1982
Large yields of soft, pleasant wines best drunk young.
1980
Underestimated at first: balanced and scented, though most are past it now.
1978
A late but uniformly good crop. Top growers made breathtaking wines. Now very rare.