Information & scores : 2013 Burgundy

• Red 16/20
• White 15/20

Vintage description 2013 Burgundy

Like 2012, 2013 was a complicated and difficult to manage year for all winegrowers in the region. However, results for this vintage are slightly better than they were for the previous year and the balance is generally better, even if the wines aren't quite as powerful as 2012's greatest successes. All the same, as in any delicate year, buyers should proceed with care, and look primarily to the best producers. These are often the organic or biodynamic vineyards, or, at the very least, those paying great attention to their vines.

In this region as well, the vintage was slow to develop (harvests in October) following a "sluggish" summer and what one wine grower vividly described as a "long and painful birth". Once again, hail storms caused problems in the Côte de Beaune region, especially in Meursault, Volnay and Pommard.

Côte de Nuits has produced some well-balanced reds. These may be livelier than in 2012 (where some reds seem a little too "sunny"), and are certainly less powerful, but they have a delicate quality and are an accurate reflection of the hierarchy of terroirs. All in all, these are easy to drink and enjoyable wines. Once again however, output is low.

On the Côte de Beaune, white wines, with a livelier balance than in 2012, seem slightly better than the reds, as appellation areas for the latter were seriously affected by hail storms and the outcome, at times, is a slightly earthy taste. "Lesser" appellations (Saint-Romain, Saint-Aubin, etc.) have produced equally successful red and white wines at comparatively restrained prices. On the Côte Chalonnaise, Rully seems to have produced a good vintage.

Chablis did not have an easy year but the grands crus seem to have performed respectably and the best premiers crus (especially on the right bank) have been successful. However, production levels for the appellation are low (down 25% on the typical average).