My trip to Burgundy in November to taste the 2010s will go down as one of the highlights of my career. There have been few years in recent memory that even come close to the quality of the 2010s, I am convinced this will go down as a legendary vintage in years to come. The quality is apparent across the board with even the “lesser” appellations producing wines of exceptional quality. As always there is a price to be paid for such vinous delights and in 2010 it is the size of the harvest. Yields might be down, but this is still a year to celebrate, with many growers raving about the sheer quality of the wines produced.

To read my full 2010 Burgundy vintage review click here.

We will be holding our 2010 Burgundy En Primeur tasting at Chandos House (Royal Society of Medicine) in Central London on Monday 9^th January 2012 between 3-8pm and will be showing wines from the following producers:

• Christophe Cordier
• JP Fichet
• Hubert Lamy
• Vincent Morey
• De Courcel
• Pierre Andre
• Jessiaume (New Grower)
• Albert Bichot
• Sylvie Esmonin
• Frederic Magnien
• Confuron Cotetidot
• Denis Mortet
• Robert Chevillon 
• Chauvenet Chopin
• Lignier Michelot
• Laurent Mouton

We are also pleased to announce that some of the growers will be making the trip to London and will be attending the event personally to talk you through their wines.

With a vintage like this a tasting of this nature is not to be missed. Spaces are limited so if you would like to attend simply respond to this email, call us on 020 7963 9060 or click here to reserve your place.

Introduction

The 2010 vintage was a rollercoaster ride for Burgundy, with some shocking patches of weather leading to near perfect ripening conditions at the end of the growing season. Despite this tumultuous year Burgundy has produced a vintage that although very small, boasts some extraordinary wines. This could be said to be a miracle vintage.

The Vintage

Following the harvest of the 2009s, there was rain, which was just above average and was at least balanced out by intermittent sunny spells. This equilibrium ended with the on-set of frost towards the end of December. These attacks of frost caused widespread damage (reminiscent of the 1985 vintage) and even managed to entirely destroy some vines. On one night temperatures in Gevrey Chambertin fell from -2 to as low as -20, then rose back to -2 by daybreak. This was the first major contributing factor to the drop in yield in 2010, with some as low as 25-30% below average.

With the exception of a few bright spells in April, this cold spell continued right up until early June. This meant the vines flowered much later and rather irregularly, with widespread bouts of coulure, millerandage and even isolated attacks of mildew. Thankfully a hot period arrived and throughout June and July the sun was high, allowing the fruit to bulk up before the inevitable storms, with hail in many southerly areas.

August was warm, but not hot. The rain still appeared throughout the month and into early September, at which point the weather changed yet again. The days were dry and the nights clear and cool, the hours of sun were very good indeed. It was this prolonged exposure to the sun with a northerly wind that really lifted the vintage, with photosynthesis continuing right until the end of the ripening period. This meant that with the green vegetation still present, the acidity was kept suitably high whilst the grapes continued to pile on the sugar, this left many growers with extremely healthy, well balanced grapes.

The fine weather then continued well into harvest time, which despite all the difficulties of the early season was at a relatively normal time and was generally finished by the 1^st October.

The Wines

The wines produced in 2010 are of staggering quality, there is both freshness and depth to the wines. The whites are crisp and lively, with buckets of minerality, whilst the reds are deep and concentrated, flushed with dark fruits and well structured tannins, yet still remarkably fresh. To have all of these qualities in the same year is rare, but to see them across the board after such a difficult year is quite extraordinary.

In the Mâconnais there are very low yields due to the hail, but the wines produced show fantastic fruit, a good balance of alcohol and a great supporting acidity with a rich, full character.

Chablis also saw greatly reduced yields in 2010, but show well defined finesse, a superb fruit character and a great acidity.

It is the Côte d’Or, unsurprisingly, where the truly great wines of 2010 have been made.  

The reds are outstanding in terms of quality. In the Côte de Beaune Volnay has produced wines of great depth and concentration, whilst Pommard has seen its finest year in recent memory, with Yves Confuron producing some outstanding wines at Domaine De Courcel. 2010 is a year that can truly be called “classic” for all the right reasons.

The Côte de Nuits has also produced some brilliant wines in 2010, with the top vignerons managing to sideline many of the consequences of the bad weather. In the case of growers like Mortet, wines of immense clarity and precision have been produced. The same can be said throughout the Côte de Nuits in 2010.

The sheer quality of the reds does not mean that the whites should be overlooked; at our recent tastings the wines of Meursault and Chassagne Montrachet showed an exceptional depth and vibrant clarity, displaying explosive notes of crisp white fruits and exotic aromas, with fantastic levels of acidity. There is massive potential here too.

Overall the Côte d’Or has had a phenomenal vintage, despite, or possibly because of all the hardships experienced during the growing season. Vignerons have worked tirelessly to cultivate ripe, healthy grapes which have produced wines with great fruit, excellent structure and a delicate, precise acidity. 2010 Burgundy is a revelation.

Recommendation

In a great year like this it is extremely difficult to pick a shortlist of the best wines; the truth is I could happily pick them all. 2010 Burgundy is a year of small yields and impeccable wines, with some producers seeing dramatic reductions in production. With the Chinese now active in the market, this may well lead to inflated prices in the future, so this really is a vintage to seriously consider buying En Primeur, as many of these wines will probably not make it to the open market.

Above all, 2010 is a year that could have been a dismal failure and has turned into a heroic masterpiece. I tasted some of the most classical, pure and exciting wine I have ever had the pleasure of experiencing. It is simply a “must have” vintage for all dedicated wine lovers.

James Price,

November 2011

Genesis Rhône 2010 Vintage Review

The 2010 vintage is a remarkable year, but how does it compare with the other recent good vintages? In the North the 2010 is being likened by some growers to the 2006 and it certainly does offer all the weighty fruits that boasted, but there is an air of freshness and finesse that stands these wines apart. The southern Rhône has seen its wines compared with the brilliant 2005 but again I don’t think this does them enough justice. There is a certain grace to the 2010s, and that is not something I say often of the Southern Rhône. 2010 is simply a wonderful vintage, the only down-side being the much reduced yields experienced in the South. This certainly is a vintage of quality if not quantity.

The Vintage

The vines benefitted from a wet and cool spring, this gave the vines an opportunity to store vital water and energy for the growing season. Throughout April and early May the vintage saw bouts of coulure and a smaller than expected flowering. June/July however saw the temperature increase leading to a healthy burst of ripening, followed by a moderate August that allowed the vines to maintain a good level of acidity. September was hot again this year, but a bout of rain towards the end of the month allowed the grapes to hang on into early October. However the vines in the South produced a miserly quantity of grapes due to the coulure, the grapes however were exceptionally concentrated.

The Wines

The North

From the slopes of Côte Rôtie through to Hermitage the wines express wonderful minerality, not overwhelming but well infused, helping to create freshness and a lush character. The minerality is especially noticeable in the whites. Packed with blossom and tropical fruit aromas they are simply delicious. Some of my stand-out wines this year include the delightful Condreius of François Villard; once again these wines show a clarity and pureness

second to none. Natacha Chave (Domaine Aléofane) has produced a spectacular St Joseph brimming with dark fruits and spiced notes. Of course the wines of “Mr Côte Rôtie” himself, René Rostaing, deserve more than a brief mention. In this superb vintage Rostaing has made remarkable wines, adding “Une grande année por moi” for good measure. This year the Northern Rhône has produced wines that have plenty of power and fruit, but also delicacy and show a great finesse. There are some extraordinarily good wines in 2010.

The South

The warm growing season really shows in the Southern Rhône wines. It created wine with great colour, sweet fruits and ripe tannins, but still showing the same finesse found in the North. Overall the wines are well rounded with perfect balancing acidity. They are fleshy, well structured and together, giving great potential for ageing. My first highlights of the trip were the wines from Domaine La Mordorée. I am a huge fan of this Domaine and the 2010’s did not disappoint. Christophe Delorme has hailed his Châteauneuf Reine des Bois as “one of the 3 best wines I have made”. Another delight from Châteauneuf was the Cuvée Reservée from Domaine Vieille Julienne; this wine is everything you could wish for from the Rhône, packets of fruit, good structure and that all important finesse! The whites are not to be ignored either; one of my favourite wines of the campaign was the Châteauneuf Blanc “La Fontaine” from Domaine Grand Veneur. Outside the more famous Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Domaine de la Monardière from Vacqueyras showed wines with poise that were a pleasure to taste. Whatever your style preference there are some brilliant wines to be picked up from this stellar vintage.

Recommendation

The 2010 vintage has produced wines of extreme finesse, rich fruit flavours, phenolic ripeness, structure, and a great overall balance. This all makes for a great vintage. On the whole, prices have generally increased a little but this can be expected and the wines truly do justify the price. When one considers the value of sterling and the economic climate it is fair to say that the growers of the Rhône continue to act in a reasonable manner – unlike the record price hikes consumers faced yet again from the Bordelaise. The whites from the 2010 vintage can be enjoyed right away; they deliver great freshness and clarity of fruit, but with an acidity to add a definite aging potential. The reds however are very much in line for aging They have all the qualities for  wines with a very long lifespan ahead of it; great tannin structure, great acidity and a complexity that will only get better with age. 2010 is the perfect vintage for cellaring; these wines will offer the greatest rewards to those willing to wait a little. It is worth noting that yields are among the lowest in a generation. Volumes will be very restricted, but 2010 is a brilliant vintage in the Rhône Valley and should be in every decent cellar.

James Price, November 2011