You can view all of our 2019 Burgundy en primeur wines by their original release offers, with full commentary, scores and tasting notes here.  Alternatively, see a list of the wines below, or download a PDF version of the offer here.

During the first lockdown earlier this year, as Europe collectively held its breath, it was very uplifting to follow vignerons in Burgundy posting pictures on social media about their ongoing work in the vineyard.  There is something very reassuring about life amongst the vines continuing as normal.  In the current climate, 2019 Burgundy en primeur may seem to be the definition of a "non-essential", but we hope that there will be pleasure and enjoyment for you in following the release of this latest vintage.  Judging by the initial reaction, that certainly seems to be the case.  An excellent but very small vintage, the wines from 2019 are selling fast and you will need to be quick to secure your first choices.

The 2019 Growing Season

In one sentence, 2019 in Burgundy was a hot, dry year leading to a small harvest, producing high quality red and white wines with lots of concentration but surprising freshness: a superb vintage.

The year began with very mild weather and with an uneven flowering in June.  This in turn resulted in widespread 'millerandage', or 'hen and chicks' as it is charmingly known in English, with grapes developing in uneven sizes (some large, some small).  There was some frost in early April particularly in the Mâconnais, but in general this was not a year heavily marked by 'le gel.'

The rest of the year was close to ideal, but there was almost no rain, with the drought producing exceptionally small, concentrated berries. The cumulative effect of issues at flowering, millerandage and low rainfall reduced the overall crop size by between 30-50% compared to 2018; an even smaller harvest than in a frost year like 2016.  

The Wines

Small yields will mean limited allocations, particularly for the most sought-after wines.  Our very first tastings of the 2019s were in Burgundy just after the harvest, whilst they were still fermenting in barrel.  Over the autumn we tasted around one hundred cask samples, sent with great generosity by the domaines.  Whilst it is still too early to form an overview, we are confident that the much-discussed combination of concentration and freshness is very real. 

Acidity levels in the white wines are impressive, but the fresh character here comes as much from picking at the right time, to emphasise orchard and stone fruit aromas rather than sliding towards exotic or tropical notes.  This is a remarkably successful vintage, producing concentrated wines which still manage to shout their terroirs from the glass.  The reds have real signs of complexity, with long term potential.  Based on grands crus tasted so far, we cannot remember these ever being so open or impressive at such an early stage of development. 

Stock currently lying ex-cellars in France, wines due to land in the UK by late 2021.  Prices are shown in bond (IB) per 6 or 12 bts (unless stated otherwise). Onward delivery within the UK not included.  Stock and orders are subject to confirmation.