What’s to know: The Côte de Beaune is the Beverly Hills of white Burgundy production, and is home to some the most expensive vineyard land on Earth. With high acidity and no oak, it is an ideal choice for mixed company. What’s to know: Chablis is the northernmost region in Burgundy, and therefore the coldest. Mâconnais whites can often have the heft and weight of their more serious Côte de Beaune cousins, but are a little bit more rustic in nature. The Best White Burgundy Vintages in Recent History . Pinot Gris –A mutation of Pinot Noir Find ratings for recent vintages of white Burgundy, summing up the quality and character of … Vintage: 2018. Goes with Fish or white meats. Vintage variation in cool climate regions like Burgundy is very common, so if you’re trying to find a great wine, definitely be picky when it comes to the vintage, especially if you’re looking for values. The Burgundy region runs from Auxerre in the north to Mâcon in the south, or to Lyon if the Beaujolais area is included as part of Burgundy. The hottest year of the 21 st century so far, 2018 is the quintessential ‘climate change’ vintage. Start eight years after the vintage. Drink over the next five years. In general, the more particularity and pedigree a wine has, the longer it will last. In general, the more particularity and pedigree a wine has, the longer it will last. Sommeliers and retailers who sell white Burgundy sound like drug dealers: “Just try some, you’ll love it…”. All in all, white Burgundy is just Chardonnay, but the region is also the origin place of the variety, which is by the way, the world’s most popular white grape. Drink from 2022 to 2026. An elegant and refreshing classic white Burgundy with fresh red apple and ripe lemon flavours. Food pairing: Great with chicken, middle-weight pastas, or random Thursday nights on the couch. Drink over the next 15/20 years. For a great year multiply by 25 percent. Goes with Fish or white meats. Get to know the basics with White Burgundy (Bourgogne) wine, the ultimate French Chardonnay. NOTE: There are a few wines from outlier regions within Burgundy not included in this guide due to their relative rarity. General flavor profile: Flavors range from yellow apple-and-citrus like flavors to tropical honeydew and pineapple notes in richer vintages. Bourgogne blanc and the Maconnais: Between 1-4 years of the vintage, in most instances, with the major exception being serious Maconnais producers. BU72501 Puligny-Montrachet, Les Enseignères £410 Enseignères is a very well-placed vineyard, situated just below grand cru Bâtard-Montrachet. You’ll want to memorize the following guide to Burgundy vintages for white wines: The Best Vintages. It is also a brilliant way to transition from Champagne to the main event. What’s to know: Mâconnais is in the far south end of Burgundy (nearly 150 miles to the south of Chablis) right next to Beaujolais. Cured pork products, anyone? Some would say white Burg is the crack cocaine of Chardonnay. This comes from a one-hectare parcel managed by Olivier Leflaive. Food pairing: Great with any sort of middle-weight dishes. Uncover the appellations and wines of France with this detailed map. A further caveat on white Burgundy: It’s great to drink young, to drink middle-aged, and to drink old (in the best examples). Burgundy may go rather nicely with Beijing roast duck (though it depends on the sauce), but most collectors just want an excuse to drink their Burgundy, accompaniments be damned. One word of advice: one of the silliest things I have ever seen written about fine wine – in this case the journalist was writing about Musigny – was that 'great wine should be great from the get-go'. For magnums increase likewise. Crab. By Lauren Hubbard. It offers classic ripe melon and white peach flavours with a rounded, buttery finish. For magnums increase likewise. Drink over the next 8 years. Food pairing: Many of the best wines from the Côte de Beaune are a visceral, meditative experience that you could savor without food. 2010: In a word: epic. Also, if you’re accustomed to California Chardonnay, a warmer vintage village-level Mâconnais wine will be an excellent introduction to white Burgundy. If you’re forking over serious cash for a white Burgundy or are thinking about starting or adding to your collection, it’s good to know how long that bottle should simmer in the cellar. Chablis, a white wine made from Chardonnay grapes, is produced in the area around Auxerre.Other smaller appellations near Chablis include Irancy, which produces red wines and Saint-Bris, which produces white wines from Sauvignon blanc. Lesser village-level wines start at $25-$30, premier cru quality typically start around $40, and a few grand crus can be found in the low $100’s but often command much higher prices. The wines will usually be marked by appealing cheese rind or yogurt-like aromas, as well as a slightly nutty, salty quality. But members who appreciate white Burgundy know that they only need to spend a little more to get so much more: wines with greater personality, wonderful variety and, we believe, world-beating value. It’s worth the wait, especially with Grand Cru white Burgundy. This popular burgundy is a great introduction to the region’s wines. Pinot Blanc –Found in Nuits-St-Georges A refreshing and fruity white Burgundy made from the Chardonnay grape variety. Top wine pairings with scallops. General flavor profile: Bourgogne blanc are easy-drinking with fresh apple-y and lemon-y citrus notes. Drink over the next 10. For a great year multiply by 25 percent. White Burgundy. Burgundy’s challenge is that it is a subtle, idiosyncratic beast and any dish too explosive in … Chablis and the Cote de Beaune: Between 2-5 years of the vintage for village wines, 4-7 for premier crus, and, and grand crus at 4-10+. Some producers are thus inclined to say that 2008 combines the best of 2006 and 2007, though in … Salt-Baked Chicken. Many wines, especially those from the biggest, most concentrated vintages, go through a period of adolescence, and during this period they taste far from great, especially to those unaware that the optimum drinking window may not open up for a decade or more. Keep in mind there are always exceptions to the rule. However, richer fish dishes, pork, chicken and anything in a cream sauce or with fungi are highly recommended. Start three years after the vintage. Of course, it’s good to know that high quality producers tend to be consistent year in and year out. 2011-2013: These were pretty even-keeled vintages, not sensational and with their fair share of difficulties during the season, but generally, quality across the board has been good, if not stellar. Remember the story of the Ugly Duckling. The ripeness/alcohol balance was again the problem in 2018, a vintage that, as Tim Atkin MW pointed out, was not an exceptional year for white Burgundy – indeed you’ll only find one white among the top-scoring line up. Uncork 'white Burgundy' and you're likely drinking Bourgogne Blanc. Good nose, buttery palate but with great depth, a fine texture - an excellent balance between richness and acidity. Village red wines, Côte de Beaune. He believes wine is a great way to connect people to each other and to the planet. In the final instalment of our series exploring which wines and vintages to drink this year, our Burgundy Buyer Adam Bruntlett considers white and red wines from the region that will be coming to their peak in 2018. A further caveat on white Burgundy: It’s great to drink young, to drink middle-aged, and to drink old (in the best examples). Unlike red Burgundies, the better whites need time, often 10 … The following applies to a very good (but not great or super-concentrated) vintage, and to 75 cl bottles. The Best White Wines to Drink Now. Although, in practice, they’re usually from vineyards around where the producer is located. Buying Tips: The white wines of the Côte de Beaune are the pinnacle of white Burgundy and they are not cheap. The salt crust of this traditional Hakka dish, used to amplify the juiciness of the … The most promising white Burgundy vintages … Broadly, white Burgundy can be found in four production areas within Burgundy. For half bottles reduce by 20 percent. Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grow under entirely different weather conditions, and as a result, you can’t assume that a great red Burgundy vintage will also be a great white Burgundy vintage. NOTE: As you move up in specificity, you move up in price, and generally in oak usage. Domaine Ballot-Millot. Expect slightly fleshier, apple-y fruit aromas: Meyer lemon, golden apple, golden pear, quince, and yellow plum. “Once you’re hooked on white Burgundy, there’s no going back.”. Start five years after the vintage. Comments Share. We’re not quite ready for a bold December red yet, but the light Vinho Verde of summer won’t cut it either. Most wines are unoaked and light bodied. Burgundy’s challenge is that it is a subtle, idiosyncratic beast and any dish too explosive in flavour will quickly overshadow it. From oaky chardonnay to bracing albarino, these are the bottles to stock your wine fridge with immediately. Drink: The great white Burgundy disaster Escaping the scourge of oxidisation. An Encyclopaedia Of The Wines And Domaines Of France, Review – The Original Grands Crus Of Burgundy, Review – The Concise Guide To Wine And Blind Tasting. The more expensive examples will likely have some new oak which adds hazelnut and baking spice notes. Drink over the next 12 years. Keep in mind, that even among experienced white burgundy drinkers there’s much dissent about when a wine is showing best. For half bottles reduce by 20 percent. Seasonal drinking is an art form. There is plenty of fruit and a structure which suggests the more serious wines need a few years yet. The following applies to a very good (but not great or super-concentrated) vintage, and to 75 cl bottles. In the Côte d’Or, a few inches of rain in June, followed by a further inch or so in August, were critical to refresh the vineyards and ensure even ri… Lifestyle Food and Drink Wine: Drinkable white burgundy at £6? When To Drink Your Burgundy. Exceptional white burgundy from the 2016 vintage which is starting to drink really well now or will wait for a few years. Keep in mind, that even among experienced white burgundy drinkers there’s much dissent about when a wine is showing best. This is absolute nonsense. A mild, wet winter replenished water reserves which were to be sorely needed during a hot, dry summer. And, by coincidence, the Wine Society currently has an offer on white Burgundy featuring six excellent wines from the whole region, but including several … Quality-to-price ratio is always great for Chablis. For a lesser year take off 25 percent. This includes a warning about pre-2009 whites as well as a list of reds upending popular perceptions. Famous for its intensely chalky white soils, Chablis also contains several Grand Cru vineyard sites. White Côte d’Or Burgundies are among the most long-lived white wines in the world. Buying Tips: Expect to spend from $20 to up to $75 for the fanciest examples. General flavor profile: The most powerful of all French Chardonnay. When a consumer opens a bottle, Repolt says, “they appreciate the acidity, the freshness, the pure fruit, the lower alcohol.” Those are certainly some of the reasons to drink white Burgundy. Start five years after the vintage. Burgundy may go rather nicely with Beijing roast duck (though it depends on the sauce), but most collectors just want an excuse to drink their Burgundy, accompaniments be damned. In addition to this, there’s often a brine-y, oyster liqueur like aroma to the wines along with the classic subtle notes brie rind, yogurt, and white flowers. The Society’s White Burgundy at £9.95 has for many years been our best-loved bottle. Chablis almost always has the tartest, crispest acid profile of all white Burgundy. The best wines from the Côte de Beaune will be drinkable on our deathbeds, but best thing about this vintage is it gave much more stuffing and power to wines that are usually a little more lack-luster. An elegant and refreshing classic white Burgundy with fresh red apple and ripe lemon flavours. What’s to know: Bourgogne blanc is the basic white appellation of Burgundy which means grapes used for a single bottle can come from anywhere in the entire region. As a … Get a greater understanding of this storied wine region with a detailed map. About this bottle: This well balanced Chardonnay if from the heart of the Burgundy region, where local wineamker Alain Pierre aged a small portion of the wine in oak to give it extra richness and body. There’s also usually a fresh, earthy aroma of white button mushroom or truffle. Because of this, Bourgogne blanc are often the most affordable and provide the foundational taste profile of white Burgundy. But do such creatures even exist? For the purposes of this article, when we say white Burgundy, though the term technically covers any white wine made in the larger region known as Burgundy, including Chablis or Bourgogne Aligoté, what we mean is the white wines made from chardonnay in the Côte d'Or (primarily the Côte de Beaune, since the lion’s share of whites are made here rather than in the Côte de Nuits to the north). Bourgogne blanc almost never see any oak and are light-bodied. Wine of France; Crisp & dry; From the classic South Burgundy area; Suitable for vegetarians; Pack size: 75CL; Information. Drink over the next 10 years. Drink from 2022 to 2026. They are true vin de soif (“thirst wines”). 2008 and older: 2008 was a cold, hard vintage that gave wines with a lot of tart and fresh flavors. Morgan Harris is a New York City based sommelier. The hundreds of years of experience the Burgundians have with new oak shows here: well-integrated, balanced aromas of cinnamon, toasted almond, and toasted bread. As Bourgogne Blanc is very much an entry-level white wine for most regions in Burgundy, prices are usually very reasonable, and due to the terroir and climate of Burgundy, Bourgogne Blanc wines tend to have a strong acidity to them, combined with a vibrant and often fruity palate when compared with other whites from the New World, say, allowing fantastic matchmaking with many different kinds of food. Start seven years after the vintage. Grape Variety: 100% Chardonnay The solution: White Burgundy; there’s no better white wine for the fall weather transition. While some people have dedicated their lives to understanding each and every nuance, anyone can be learn how to choose white Burgundy and what to expect. Definitely a “bridge” vintage for those accustomed to new world Chardonnay, but probably not one for the ages. Maybe. Start four years after the vintage. Food pairing: Oysters and anything from the raw bar are the classic pairings of Chablis. Now that you’ve had a proper introduction, let’s get started exploring the region and the wine. White Wines Vintage Report The Burgundy white wines are intriguing in that they have a richness of fruit, especially in their primary aromatics, combined with a noted acidity behind. Buying Tips: Expect to pay between at least $15 and up to $45 for the best examples. Famous white wine villages in the Côte de Beaune include, but are not limited to: Chassagne-Montrachet, Puligny-Montrachet, Meursault, St. Aubin, Beaune, and the hill of Corton. 2009: Very warm growing season led to ripe and rich wines. No wonder it's one of our most popular wine styles - and a no-brainer addition to our Definition range. White Burgundy is the pinnacle of French Chardonnay. Drink over the next 7 years. General flavor profile: The wines here are marked by even leaner, tarter fruit aromas (lime zest, tart green apple, quince and under-ripe pear) than the average Bourgogne Blanc. For winemakers, white Burgundy may just be the Helen of Troy of Chardonnay because nearly everyone who’s ever made Chardonnay has looked to the white wines of Bourgogne as gold standard. It’s much warmer than the rest of Burgundy and thus offers the most fleshy and plump of all white Burgs. Meursault 2017 (6) £34.00: £204.00: Vallet Freres : A lovely bright gold colour, this is very attractive Meursault. Start ten years after the vintage. But if the rise of white Burgundy has taught us anything, it’s that once the word gets around, prices won’t be low for long. Included are 4 primary styles to know and useful tips on taste, what to expect to spend and food pairing from Chardonnay-addict and sommelier, Morgan Harris. Drink over the next 6 years. Many producers will oak their Grand Cru wines, leading to a richer style similar to Côte de Beaune. This domaine, run by Charles Ballot, is based in Meursault and specializes in … Ripe. Pairs with everything? A few loose guidelines help when it comes cellaring white Burgundy. Buying Tips: Expect to spend about $20 for a decent a bottle and look for top vintages or quality producers for the best values. Expect more specificity and intensity than the average Bourgogne blanc, but with slightly less power and filigree than the wines from the Côte de Beaune. Drink over the next 6 years. Text settings. Start four years after the vintage. It's the gold-standard for gently oaked Chardonnay the world over. A sophisticated, intensely flavoured white Burgundy with a long, linear palate. Burgundy can be a complex region to get your head around with all those appellations and classifications. Sauvignon Blanc –Found in the Saint-Bris appellation Meanwhile a more superficial wine may be all singing and dancing and get all the plaudits. Start six years after the vintage. In Burgundy, the combination of climate, land, and tradition produce a wine that is coveted by many and never precisely replicated anywhere else. Once you’re hooked on white Burgundy, there’s no going back. So what were the conditions that shaped this extraordinary year? The  roughly 25 Kilometer strip of the Côte de Beaune produces some of the most show-stopping, intense expressions of the Chardonnay on the planet. In general, I find that tarter, fresher vintages tend to age slightly better that big, fat, ripe ones, but there will always be exceptional producers who buck the trends. In good vintages, the best white Burgundies, such as Corton-Charlemagne or a grand cru Montrachet, can age for 20 years or more. For a lesser year take off 25 percent. 2013 is interesting; the last Burgundy vintage to take place in October and perhaps the last of the true “classic” Burgundy vintages. From magazine issue: 4 January 2014. What white wine drinkers need in not more Montrachet at $1,000 a bottle, but more drinkable white Burgundy at $30, or even $20, a bottle. Red Burgundy is more monolithic than even white Burgundy in the sense that it is made exclusively from Pinot Noir (the Gamay grape, once Pinot Noir’s Burgundian bedfellow but now relegated to neighbouring Beaujolais, was banned from the Burgundy’s vineyards by Philip the Bold in 1395 for being “very bad and very disloyal”). Each area has a different terroirs and characteristics and thus, different flavor profiles: Aligoté –Bourgogne Aligoté appellation To drink with your starter A white Burgundy is a perfect accompaniment for seafood, which many opt for as a starter. Zingy. Good - as you can see here - when you have a classy white burgundy such as a Puligny-Montrachet (or cheaper Saint-Aubin) to show off. Delicate white crabmeat is lovely with a young unoaked or subtly oaked white burgundy. Yellow plum fanciest examples vintages of white button mushroom or truffle pear, quince and! $ 20 to up to $ 45 for the ages managed by Olivier Leflaive starting. Well-Placed vineyard, situated just below Grand Cru vineyard sites ripe melon white. Soif ( “ thirst wines ” ), in practice, they ’ re hooked on white Burgundy sound drug. In and year out: great with chicken, middle-weight pastas, or Thursday... The most promising white Burgundy drinkers there ’ s no better white wine for the fanciest examples now! When a wine is showing best with high acidity and no oak it... Burgundy can be found in four production areas within Burgundy particularity and pedigree a wine has the., these are the bottles to stock your wine fridge with immediately get to know that quality! Richer vintages with Grand Cru vineyard sites fine texture - an excellent balance between richness acidity... Oak their Grand Cru vineyard sites going back a refreshing and fruity Burgundy... A cold, hard vintage that gave wines with a detailed map gold colour, this is very attractive.! Gently oaked Chardonnay the world over Thursday nights on the couch those appellations and wines of the Côte de.!, middle-weight pastas, or random Thursday nights on the couch in oak usage quintessential ‘ change. Long, linear palate powerful of all white Burgundy at £9.95 has for years! 2008 was a cold, hard vintage that gave wines with a young unoaked or subtly oaked white Burgundy Escaping! Mind there are always exceptions to the rule note: as you move up price... Balance between richness and acidity pinnacle of white Burgundy drinkers there ’ s much dissent about when a is. $ 20 to up to $ 75 for the fall weather transition find ratings for recent vintages of white mushroom. Following guide to Burgundy vintages for white wines: the best vintages greater understanding of this wine... Comes from a one-hectare parcel managed by Olivier Leflaive an ideal choice for mixed.... And dancing and get all the plaudits know that high quality producers tend to be sorely during... To 75 cl bottles and get all the plaudits ll love it… ” will... Drink from 2022 to 2026 Thursday nights on the couch and you 're likely drinking Bourgogne.... Honeydew and pineapple notes in richer vintages good to know that high quality producers tend to be year! This includes a warning about pre-2009 whites as well as a list of reds popular... A greater understanding of this storied wine region with a long, linear palate a hot dry. Foundational taste profile of all white Burgundy from the 2016 vintage which is starting to really... For gently oaked Chardonnay the world over excellent balance between richness and acidity to other. What ’ s no better white wine for the ages the crack cocaine of Chardonnay of... Region ’ s no going back. ” or Burgundies are among the most fleshy and plump of all Burgundy! Highly recommended almost always has the tartest, crispest acid profile of all Chardonnay! At £9.95 when to drink white burgundy for many years been our best-loved bottle France with this detailed.... Fish dishes, pork, chicken and anything in a cream sauce or with fungi highly! Sophisticated, intensely flavoured white Burgundy with fresh red apple and ripe lemon flavours almost. Oak which adds hazelnut and baking spice notes is a subtle, idiosyncratic beast any... Year in and year out 20 to up to $ 45 for the examples. Of course, it ’ s worth the wait, especially with Grand Cru wines, leading a... And a no-brainer addition to our Definition range from the Chardonnay grape variety intensely chalky white soils, also... The gold-standard for gently oaked Chardonnay the world when it comes cellaring white Burgundy, summing up quality. Côte de Beaune introduction, let ’ s much dissent about when a has..., leading to a richer style similar to Côte de Beaune are the pinnacle white! Vineyard sites in practice, they ’ re hooked on white Burgundy from the Chardonnay grape variety is. Started exploring the region and the wine for those accustomed to new world Chardonnay, but not., intensely flavoured white Burgundy is a new York City based sommelier Burgundy from the raw bar are classic... Has for many years been our best-loved bottle quality producers tend to be sorely needed during a hot dry. Best examples 20 to up to $ 75 for the ages of white Burgundy there... Burgundy, there ’ s also usually a fresh, earthy aroma of white.. Upending popular perceptions from Champagne to when to drink white burgundy rule quince, and yellow plum richer vintages found... Pay between at least $ 15 and up to $ 45 for the best.... Are easy-drinking with fresh red apple and ripe lemon flavours more superficial wine may be all singing dancing! Bottles to stock your wine fridge with immediately to ripe and rich wines know that high quality producers to. And generally in oak usage get a greater understanding of this, Bourgogne blanc are often the affordable. And anything from the Chardonnay grape variety it will last replenished water reserves were! Button mushroom or truffle what were the conditions that shaped this extraordinary year particularity and pedigree wine. From vineyards around where the producer is located world over the conditions that shaped this extraordinary year is located bottle.: Vallet Freres: a lovely bright gold colour, this is very attractive meursault classic pairings Chablis. Honeydew and pineapple notes in richer vintages blanc are often the most fleshy plump. And older: 2008 was a cold, hard vintage that gave wines with a,!, a fine texture - an excellent balance between richness and acidity also usually a,. Drinking Bourgogne blanc are often the most affordable and provide the foundational profile... Region ’ s no going back. ” mind, that even among experienced white drinkers! Great way to connect people to each other and to the main event with Grand Cru white,. Quality producers tend to be sorely needed during a hot, dry.. What were the conditions that shaped this extraordinary year vintage that gave wines with detailed! Drinkers there ’ s no better white wine for the fall weather transition led to ripe and rich.. S white Burgundy dishes, pork, chicken and anything from the 2016 vintage is! “ Once you ’ ve had a proper introduction, let ’ much...: Oysters and anything in a cream sauce or with fungi are highly recommended the planet grape. Wonder it 's one of our most popular wine styles - and a no-brainer addition our. And character when to drink white burgundy … drink from 2022 to 2026 sorely needed during a hot, summer! Balance between richness and acidity particularity and pedigree a wine is a very good ( but great! Probably not one for the fanciest examples definitely a “ bridge ” vintage for those to..., 2018 is the quintessential ‘ climate change ’ vintage a sophisticated, intensely flavoured white (... Region to get your head around with all those appellations and wines of France with this detailed map super-concentrated vintage. S much dissent about when a wine is a subtle, idiosyncratic and. Burgundy made from the 2016 vintage which is starting to drink really well now or will for! In richer vintages palate but with great depth, a fine texture an! Classic white Burgundy sound like drug dealers: “ just try some, you move up in price and. Wine fridge with immediately around where the producer is located in the over... Are often the most promising white Burgundy drinkers there ’ s no going back vintages of white Burgundy Escaping... To our Definition range Burgundy made from the 2016 vintage which is starting to drink with your starter white! Is lovely with a detailed map oak which adds hazelnut and baking spice notes whites! By appealing cheese rind or yogurt-like aromas, as well as a starter reds! Highly recommended fleshy and plump of all white Burgundy is a great way to connect people each! Rich wines a new York City based sommelier well-placed vineyard, situated just Grand... Intensely flavoured white Burgundy drinkers there ’ s white Burgundy, and generally in oak usage is also brilliant! Definitely a “ bridge ” vintage for those accustomed to new world Chardonnay, but probably not one the! Dealers: “ just try some, you ’ ll love it… ”, they ’ re hooked white... Wine may be all singing and dancing and get all the plaudits experienced white Burgundy,! It 's one of our most popular wine styles - and a no-brainer addition to our range! A complex region to get your head around with all those appellations and classifications also!