Burgundy 2007

En Primeur: Burgundy 2007

We believe that this is a must-buy vintage for any lover of fine wine, so we have drawn together the best and most exciting wines from this extraordinary vintage. The white wines are delicious, fresh and vibrant, and mark a return to a more elegant and refined style than the previous two vintages have offered. The reds wines are marked by beautiful pure, berry flavours, and are instantly appealing.

The Vintage Conditions

The growing season got off to an excellent start, with April and much of May being warm and sunny. Cool, overcast skies dominated much of July and August, a feature that slowed down growth to the point where, by mid-August growers, were in genuine fear of experiencing a vintage of mediocre standards. Then, around the 22nd August, the wind changed direction and began to blow from the north, bringing with it sunny skies, which kick-started the maturation of the berries. Ripening during the end of August and early September was rapid and potential alcohol rose rapidly.

The Vintage

Although the blessing of this fine spell of weather transformed the potential of the vintage, this is only part of the key to success in the 2007 vintage. Conditions during the summer prompted vigorous vine growth and it was crucial to dedicate as much as double the usual level of vineyard work during this period to keep excessive vegetation in check. Those who chose to follow this course of action have reaped the rewards in the resultant high quality of their wines; those who decided against this investment have, by and large, made weaker wines. The other crucial factor (applicable to the reds) was to take the risk of delaying the harvest to allow fruit to reach optimum ripeness.

In Conclusion

Taken as a whole, quality was diverse. But generalised comments hide the detail, the news that the premier division estates have achieved good to very good results, a consensus of opinion shared by professional tasters. There are hidden gems in 2007, wines which will give genuine pleasure to consumers who appreciate red burgundy with pure, natural, elegant characteristics.

2007 Burgundy En Primeur

The White Wines

From our first tasting in Chassagne-Montrachet to the last in Corton-Charlemagne, we were hugely impressed with the white wines. Following two vintages of overt, broad whites, the region has produced wines with a more focussed, nervy, taut character; a style of Chardonnay that will appeal greatly to consumers in the UK. Indeed the phrase goût anglais was frequently used by vignerons during our visits.

From bourgogne blanc to grand cru, 2007 white burgundies display a stunningly pure character and an elegance and sophistication normally found only in wines of extremely high standard. Premier and grand cru cuvées from the leading estates display electrifying presence and precision.

The Red Wines

The finest Pinots are marked by their gloriously pure aromas and juicy, ultra-fruity flavours. Whilst not as consistent as the region’s white wines, the majority of the Côte d’Or’s top addresses have made seductively fruity and, at their very best, luscious and generously rich wines. By and large, tannins are ripe and without aggression, allowing the delicious fruit, so obvious at this stage, to dominate both scents and flavours.

We were particularly pleased with many of the wines we tasted in the Côte de Nuits: from Nuits-St-Georges to Gevrey-Chambertin and taking in Chambolle-Musigny, Vosne-Romanée and Morey-St-Denis along the way. We have prioritised these communes in our purchasing list in 2007. However, throughout our visits it was apparent that there is no regular pattern in the wines from cellar to cellar, even within the same village. It really is a question of who dedicated time in the vineyards and who correctly called the harvest.

Currently available 2007 Burgundies