2020 will remain in the memory for many reasons. Not only was it the year of lockdowns and pandemic; it was also a unique and very satisfactory vintage for producers and merchants in Bourgogne.
This vintage was an historically early one, from budburst right through to harvest. The hot and sunny weather also ensured the grapes were bursting with health on the vines.
Even more surprisingly, tasting has confirmed that despite the high temperatures and almost constant drought conditions, in addition to their rich aromas, the wines are also revealing a freshness that is as unexpected as it is remarkable. Fans of Bourgogne wine will be delighted.
With volumes of around 1.56 million hectoliters, the 2020 vintage is sure to enjoy a great future.
White wines
Chablis and Grand Auxerrois The 2020 vintage will go down in history thanks to the richness of its wines and their wonderful ageing potential. On the nose, they offer lovely intensity, marked by pleasant aromas of ripe fruit. Notes of apricot and candied citrus mingle with tropical fruit and lime blossom. In the mouth, they are broad and perfectly balanced, maintaining a pleasant freshness and a very enjoyable mineral side.
Côte de Beaune
Perfectly ripe grapes combined with an acidity that stood up to the hot weather has resulted in concentrated and superbly balanced wines. The nose evokes yellow and tropical fruit like mango, grapefruit, orange, and bergamot, and they offer impressive length in the mouth. This vintage will be hailed on dining tables in three to five years’ time, and even later for the Village Premier Cru and Grand Cru wines.
Côte Chalonnaise
Like their neighbors on the Côte de Beaune, these wines offer great aromatic richness. Beautifully ripe grapes thanks to a very hot and dry summer have led to notes of very ripe citrus, pineapple, apricot, and acacia flower. On the palate, they are well-balanced; fresh, but dense and opulent. On the finish, they are indulgent, marked by pleasant mineral notes, with the promise of great ageing potential.
Mâconnais
Remarkable freshness and exemplary concentration mean these wines have all the potential to reach great heights. On the nose, citrus, yellow fruit, pineapple, and dried fruits combine with intense floral notes. In the mouth, they are rounded and smooth, with excellent acidity and an indulgent finish. 2020 is a vintage that will leave its mark.
