Information & scores : 2010 Burgundy


  • White 18/20
  • Red 18/20

Vintage description 2010 Burgundy

Unlike in 2009, nothing was a foregone conclusion in 2010 right across the Burgundy appellations. The summer was not really very hot, but the fine late autumn period in September and October ensured that grapes reached peak ripeness. Flowering issues leading to coulure and millerandage meant that yields were naturally low, with thick-skinned grapes and concentrated juice. Wines are less heavy than many in 2009, and are ripe, concentrated and fresh. This balance makes them very easy-drinking and straightforward to pair with food.

2010 is therefore a great vintage both for whites and reds. Saved at the last minute by a small harvest (half the volume of a normal year), it delivers very taut texture, plenty of dry extract and marked acidity, which will keep wines young and fresh. The small number of clusters per vine and their excellent concentration even made it possible to achieve better ripeness than in certain exceptional years.
It is also a vintage in which each terroir can express itself and every wine reflects its origins. Terroir is more important than vintage, which was not really the case in 2009. Overall, red and white wines are extremely concentrated due to low yields. Producers who usually achieve 35 hl/ha dropped to 28 hl/ha. This small harvest was not due to disease and there was no stringent selection unlike in 2011, when up to 20% of grapes were rejected. Spring was relatively dull and in spite of the sun, the yield was meagre.

Lastly, the quality of the vintage is similar in Côte de Beaune and Côte de Nuits. Whites from the Côte Chalonnaise are also concentrated, with good acidity in this instance, which bodes well for ageing. In the Chassagne area, there was good concentration once again; wines truly stand out and will age very well. Aromatic expressions are also exactly as they should be. Puligny experienced a similar or even greater success and Meursaults were extremely promising when they made their appearance. As for Chablis, everyone agrees that 2010 is the best vintage in the last twenty years!


Best in 2010 France, Burgundy, White

Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru Leflaive (Domaine) - Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru Bonneau du Martray (Domaine) - Montrachet Grand Cru Comtes Lafon (Domaine des) - Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru Etienne Sauzet - Chablis Grand Cru Les Clos Vincent Dauvissat (Domaine) - Chablis Grand Cru Les Preuses Vincent Dauvissat (Domaine) - Montrachet Grand Cru Jacques Prieur (Domaine) - Chablis Grand Cru Bougros Côte Bouguerots William Fèvre - Montrachet Grand Cru Marquis de Laguiche Joseph Drouhin - Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru Maison Louis Jadot - Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru Henri Boillot (Domaine) -


Best in 2010 France, Burgundy, Red

Romanée-Saint-Vivant Grand Cru Domaine de la Romanée-Conti - Chambertin Grand Cru Armand Rousseau (Domaine) - Mazis-Chambertin Grand Cru Vieilles Vignes Dugat-Py - Clos de la Roche Grand Cru Dujac (Domaine) - Chambertin Clos de Bèze Grand Cru Armand Rousseau (Domaine) - Corton Grand Cru Clos des Cortons Faiveley - Chambertin Clos de Bèze Grand Cru Faiveley - Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Cros Parantoux Emmanuel Rouget - Clos des Lambrays Grand Cru Domaine des Lambrays - Clos de Tart Grand Cru Mommessin - Bonnes-Mares Grand Cru Dujac (Domaine) - Griotte-Chambertin Grand Cru Claude Dugat - Musigny Grand Cru Jacques-Frédéric Mugnier - Bonnes-Mares Grand Cru Georges Roumier (Domaine) - Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru Vieilles Vignes Château de La Tour - Richebourg Grand Cru Anne Gros - Richebourg Grand Cru A.-F. Gros - Bonnes-Mares Grand Cru Jacques-Frédéric Mugnier - Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru Les Amoureuses Jacques-Frédéric Mugnier - Romanée-Saint-Vivant Grand Cru Arnoux-Lachaux (Domaine) -