A blank page … a new vintage … new opportunities … further Bourgudian delights.
The beauty of Burgundy is the change and the diversity … a new vintage always represent a new expression of the terroirs and Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Aligote.
Francois Millet, Domaine Comte Georges de Vogüé
I have tasted many vintages, and many vignerons even more, yet it’s almost impossible to pin-point what vintage the current vintage resembles.
This perfectly illustrates the complexity and the delicacy of Burgundy – all vintages bring a new expression – sometimes in contrast to the last vintage, sometimes complimenting the latter – but always diviating from other vintages in one way or another.
Hence the 2016 vintage is a blank new page waiting to be explored, consumed and enjoyed.
The initial impression of the 2016 Vintage
On my March 2017 trip to Burgundy I tasted a small range of white and red 2016s – just to form a first impression of the vintage – in fact I even tasted a few in late January.
The 2016 vintage is very much different from the rich and somewhat hot 2015 vintage, as the wines have more acidity and freshness than the 2015s – a more classic vintage no doubt.
The first reports from producers are optimistic regarding quality and very depressing regarding the quantities … some estates are more than 70% down on quantities in 2016 (from an average year) – and this is of cause mainly due to the frost in late April 2016 – that wiped out plots and sections in many vineyards.
Estates where I sampled 2016s on the trip
I tasted 2016s at the following estates on my March 2017 trip … to get some first impressions.
Reds:
- Domaine Comte Georges de Vogüé
- Domaine Georges Noëllat
- Domaine Hudelot-Noëllat
- Maison Chantereves
Whites:
- Domaine Morey-Coffinet
- Maison Chantereves
Thibault Morey, Domaine Morey-Coffinet
The style of the 2016s
The style of the red 2016s is energetic and classic – quite lightfooted after weighty 2015s – but still wines with a considerable intensity. They are very transparent, and the few wines tasted offer a lovely cool spring fruit and floralness – indeed charming.
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- A true vin d’émotion – a Burgundy of passion
- A truly hedonistic wine – lively and enjoyable
- A vivacious wine for pure indulgance
- A Vin Vif - fresh, energetic and with a light appearance
Cazn’r wait to read the first tasting- report on the 2O16s. My personal tastings led to no conclusions since most of them in full malo at the time of my visit (last week) and hence almost impossible to draw conclusions for a non-connaisseur .
Well Johan, we tasted wines that were before, during and after malo. Some were easy to taste others very difficult – this is also why it’s only some first impressions. I try to taste the same selected wines before malo and after malo each year – to learn from the experience of tasting them before the malo. So far I feel quite optimistic about the 2016s … but most vintages are exiting in one way or another.