WineTime France News

Everyone spoke about the “destructive” hail in July. Admittedly it hit some areas hard: Volnay, Pommard, Monthelie…and others were spared: Savigny, Corton.

The problem with a hailstorm is the weather that follows. You need sun and wind to dry the grapes and stop the rot. Well, here Beaune was luckier and good weather set in from the 10th August through to the end of September. This meant that the berries that remained and that weren’t affected, were able to mature correctly and this confirms that if the yield was “inevitably” down, the level was still high, leading to a potentially good vintage for Pinots in the Côte de Beaune.

The whites give a different story. After the hail, the maturation process stopped and had trouble getting started for the remaining 7 or 8 weeks. The one village to succeed was Meursault, producing some full-bodied and expressive wines. Puligny, Chassagne and Saint Aubin were a little more hesitant. Time will tell.

Corton, Corton Charlemagne, Aloxe Corton, Ladoix, Pernand-Vergelesses

Magnificent!! despite the wet weather in spring, these villages missed the hail and made the grade!!

Edmond Cornu et Fils – Corton rouge Bressandes

Maison Champy – Pernand Vergelesses blanc “Les Belles Filles”

Chandon de Briailles – Pernand Vergelesses 1er cru red, Ile de Vergelesses

Domaine Chapelle – Ladoix Village red, les Vris

Rapet Père et Fils – Pernand Vergelesses 1er cru white “Le Clos du Village”

Michel Mallard et fils – Corton Grand Cru Le Rognet

Beaune, Savigny les Beaune

Good, but not exceptional. Have to wait and see…these are proven late starters!

Maison Bouchard Père et Fils – Beaune 1 er cru red, Greves Vigne de L’Enfant Jesus

Domaine d’Ardhuy – Savigny les Beaune 1er cru red, Les Peuillets

Pascal Clément – Savigny les Beaune 1er cru Aux Gravains

Brigitte Bethelemot – Beaune 1er Cru white Clos des Mouches

Domaine des Croix – Beaune 1er cru les Cent Vignes

Pommard, Volnay

Little, but very good! Some of the wineries producing only 10 hl/ha instead of 40 hl/ha.

Maison Pierre André – Volany 1er cru Les Chevrets and Pommard 1er cru Commarain

Domaine Roger Belland – Volnay 1er cru Santenots

Jean-Marc Boillot – Volnay 1er cru sous la Chappelle

Maison Bouchard Père et Fils – Volany 1er cru Caillerets

Domaine du Clos de la Chappelle – Volnay 1er cru En Carelle

Henri Delagrange et Fils – Volnay village vielles vignes

Domaine de la Galopière – Pommard village

Domaine de la Pousse d’Or – Volnay 1er cru Caillerets Clos des 60 Ouvrées

Pascal Roblet-Monnot – Volnay 1er cru

Antonin Guyon – Volany 1er cru Clos des Chenes

Auxey-Duresses, Monthelie, Saint Romain

This was the epi-centre of the hailstorm, so it’s difficult to judge correctly. Saint Romain chardonnay did well, but many vines were stressed by the hail and so time will tell if the wine improves in the bottle…

Alain Gras – Saint Romain village white

Henri et Gilles Buisson – Saint Romain village red Sous Roche, white La Perrière

Christophe Buisson – Auxey Duresses village red, village white Sous le Chateau

Meursault

Despite the 3 hailstroms, Meursault seemed to be less affected than Puligny & Chassagne. Still at a very high level, as we can expect from the top wine makers in Meursault.

Jean-Marie Bouzereau – Meursault village white Les Narvaux, les Charmes, Poruzot

Sebastien Magnien – Meursault village white les Grands Charrons, Les Meix-Chavaux

Maison Alex Gambal – Meursault village white

Doamine Chavy-Chouet – Meursault white 1er cru les Charmes

Maison Louis Jadot 1er cru white les Charmes

Domaine Vincent Latour – Meursault 1er cru red Les Cras, white Les Perrières

Domaine Michelot – Meursault 1er cru white Perrières

Chassagne-Montrachet, Puligny Montrachet, Saint Aubin

A very tough vintage for these star chardonnay players. Hit at the most crucial moment by hail, they had problems finishing their maturity.

Vincent Girardin – Bienvenues-batard-montrachet

Maison Bouchard Père et Fils – Montrachet grand cru

Marc Colin et Fils – Puligny Montrachet 1er cru white Garenne, 1er cru En Remilly

Roger Belland – Chassagne Montrachet 1er cru red Morgeot-Clos Pitois

Maison Pierre André – Chasage Montrachet village white

Domaine Jean Chartron – Batard-Montrachet grand cru

Vincent Prunier – Saint Aubin 1er cru red Les Combes, Chassagne-montrachet village red

Maranges, Santenay

These two villages “piggy-backed” the leaders, mainly because they avoided the hail…and thanks to some clever wine-making.

Domaine Jessiaume – Santenay village rouge (exceptional!!)

Chervot et Fils – Maranges 1er cru La Fussière

Roger Belland – Santenay village white Comme Dessus

Maison Pierre André – Santenay village white

Domaine de la Pousse d’Or – santenay 1er cru rouge Clos de Tavannes

Hubert Lamy – Santenay village red Clos des Hates

Anne-Marie et Jean-MArc Vincent  Santenay 1er cru red Beaurepaire