Red wine Burgundy : Our Selection

What's the best red wine from Burgundy?

It's difficult to establish a hierarchy that could be called into question with each vintage. However, there's a good chance that a Grand Cru from the best Côte d'Or terroirs will give you more emotion than a more "ordinary" wine, even if the very high prices raise expectations to such an extent that disappointment is possible.

How are Burgundy red wines classified?

There are four classification levels:

- regional (Bourgogne, Bourgogne Côte d'Or, Bourgogne Grand Ordinaire...)

- where the name of the village is followed (or not) by that of the climate (Pommard Les Vignots, Meursault Les Rougeots, Volnay Les Brouillards...).

- 1er Cru where the name of the village is followed by 1er Cru followed by the name of the climate (Rully 1er Cru Rabourcé, Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Boudriottes, Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru les Suchots...).

- Grand Cru where the name of the appellation is followed by the word Grand Cru (Corton Charlemagne Grand Cru, Montrachet Grand Cru, Chambertin Grand Cru...).

Which Burgundy red wine can be kept?

It all depends on what we mean by "keeping": if it's 5 years maximum, most Burgundy wines can be kept. But if you want to keep them longer, it's best to choose at least a 1er Cru. Not only does the terroir give it extra concentration, but the cork that seals it is often more qualitative - which is essential for ageing.

What's the best year for red Burgundy wines?

In recent years, it's 2015, 2016, 2018 and 2019. 2023, which is often not yet bottled, is promising. The advantage of "weaker" years such as 2017 and 2021 means they can be enjoyed today.

Which red Burgundy to drink in 2024?

The choice is yours: a "regional" Burgundy or a "Villages" less than 5 years old, a 1er Cru from 2021 or 2017, or a mature 1er / Grand Cru (2012, 2010, 2005...).

How to choose a good red Burgundy wine?

The producer should be the first factor in your choice, as he'll make a big difference to his neighbors with the same terroir - then it's up to you to see whether his style of wine appeals to you. Then the climate - the parcel where it comes from - because there's a qualitative gap between wines from (very) good terroir and those from more ordinary soils. Then there's the vintage, which plays a significant role. Failure to take all three factors into account can only lead to disappointment.