After several very small harvests in Burgundy in recent years, the 2023 Burgundy harvest is one of the most generous in quite some time! A mild winter and a late spring resulted in late budding, meaning no risk of spring frost and therefore no loss of harvest. Additionally, May and June were very warm, leading to a quick and exuberant flowering under excellent conditions, resulting in many and large grape clusters.
The summer brought alternating warm weather and storms, so strict monitoring of vine health was crucial. Limiting the number of grape clusters per vine was essential. Even the oldest vines produced abundant fruit. The temptation to maintain high yields was strong, given the small harvests of past years. However, many producers had to do a “green harvest” for the first time in years (removing some grape clusters to help the vine focus its energy on the remaining ones for full ripeness), and they also used the “saignée” method (draining some juice to increase concentration by reducing the juice-to-skin ratio)—a technique which hasn’t been used in years.
The 2023 Burgundy wines show great precision and express their terroir very well (with the hierarchy of terroirs clearly visible). The larger terroirs yielded much more refined wines than the smaller ones.
The red wines are very expressive, with flavourful, pure, and precise fruit. They are balanced and fresh, with great approachability now and a potential of about 10 years. They are energetic, ripe, and harmonious.
The Chardonnay yields were as generous as those of Pinot Noir. Many winemakers self-restricted their yields, with again large differences depending on the terroir: some wines are rather fresh, others are full-bodied, rich, and pristine, with great class—thanks to strict selections and limited yields.
You can now preorder the great red wines of Domaine Drouhin Laroze, with a preorder discount of 5%. The quality of this house increases year after year, and this generous harvest gives you the chance to buy a Grand Cru (which were immediately sold out in other years)! New this year is their “Bourgogne Chardonnay,” a beautiful white Burgundy at a fair price.
You can also preorder the red and white wines from Maison Albert Bichot, whose estates produce very high-quality wines, each in their own style: Domaine du Clos Frantin in Côte de Nuits, organic with many top wines; Château Gris in Nuits-St.-Georges (organic); Domaine du Pavillon with both top red and white wines in Côte de Beaune (organic); Domaine Long-Depaquit in Chablis, the oldest wine house in Chablis, now with the newest cellar and many Premier and Grand Crus; they also offer a Chambolle-Musigny “Les Amoureuses”.
Delivery of the red and white Burgundy 2023 wines will be in early November.