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Burgundy

France

About Burgundy

Burgundy (Bourgogne) stands as one of the world's most revered wine regions, producing wines of extraordinary complexity and elegance from its patchwork of carefully classified vineyards. The region stretches from Chablis in the north through the Côte d'Or (comprising the Côte de Nuits and Côte de Beaune), continuing south through the Côte Chalonnaise and Mâconnais. Pinot Noir reigns supreme for red wines, while Chardonnay produces the region's celebrated whites. The concept of terroir reaches its fullest expression here, where subtle differences in soil, exposure, and microclimate create distinctly different wines from neighboring plots. The classification system—from regional wines through village, Premier Cru, and Grand Cru—reflects centuries of viticultural observation and remains the template for quality hierarchies worldwide.

Vintage Ratings

Rating:
5
4
3
2
1
PeakReadyHold
Year20242023202220212020201920182017201620152014201320122011201020092008200720062005200420032002200120001999199819971996199519941993199219911990198919881987198619851984
Red
—
—
—
—
—
—
White

Cork tracks drinking windows for every Burgundy vintage in your cellar. Sign up

Outstanding Burgundy Vintages

The best recent vintages rated excellent or exceptional.

Red

2022

Almost ready
Exceptional

An excellent vintage of power and generosity. Warm, dry conditions from bud break through harvest produced concentrated wines with ripe, sweet tannins.

2027Peak 2030–20402045

2020

Ready
Excellent

An exceptional vintage that will be remembered for generations. Hot, dry conditions concentrated the fruit remarkably, yet the wines retain freshness and harmony.

2025Peak 2030–20502055

2019

Ready
Excellent

A rich, sun-kissed vintage of immediate appeal. Warm conditions produced wines of notable generosity with ripe, sweet fruit and polished tannins.

2024Peak 2028–20432048

2017

At peak
Excellent

The vintage of the frost. April temperatures plunged to -8°C, devastating vineyards across the Côte d'Or.

2022Peak 2025–20332037

2016

At peak
Excellent

Another frost-affected vintage, though less severe than 2017. Spring hail added to the challenges.

2022Peak 2025–20342038

2015

Ready
Excellent

One of the great Burgundy vintages of the modern era. Warm, dry conditions produced wines of exceptional concentration and depth, yet with brilliant freshness and precision.

2023Peak 2028–20502055

2014

At peak
Excellent

A vintage saved by a glorious Indian summer. August rains threatened disaster, but September warmth and wind dried the grapes and concentrated flavors.

2020Peak 2023–20302035

2012

At peak
Excellent

An outstanding vintage of energy and precision. Following three difficult years, 2012 delivered classic wines of great purity.

2020Peak 2024–20352040

2009

At peak
Excellent

A ripe, generous vintage with immediate appeal. Warm conditions produced rich, forward wines with soft tannins and opulent fruit.

2016Peak 2020–20322038

2005

At peak
Excellent

A legendary vintage of exceptional quality across the board. Warm, dry conditions produced wines of remarkable concentration and depth, with the structure to age for decades.

2015Peak 2020–20402050

White

2022

Ready
Excellent

An outstanding vintage of power and concentration. The hot, dry season produced rich, golden wines with ripe fruit and lower acidity than cooler years.

2025Peak 2028–20352038

2021

Ready
Excellent

A superb vintage of tension and energy. The frost-reduced yields concentrated the surviving fruit remarkably.

2025Peak 2028–20362040

2020

Ready
Excellent

An exceptional vintage of remarkable depth and complexity. Hot conditions produced concentrated wines, yet careful harvesting preserved freshness.

2024Peak 2028–20402045

2019

At peak
Excellent

A generous vintage of immediate appeal. Warm conditions produced rich, rounded wines with ripe fruit and soft acidity.

2023Peak 2026–20342038

2017

At peak
Excellent

Frost devastated red wine production but spared many white wine vineyards on higher slopes. Where vines survived, excellent quality was achieved.

2021Peak 2024–20312035

2015

At peak
Excellent

A fine vintage of power and freshness. Warm conditions produced concentrated wines with excellent ripeness, yet acidity was well-preserved.

2019Peak 2022–20302035

2014

At peak
Excellent

An outstanding vintage of precision and energy. September sun rescued what looked like a difficult year.

2018Peak 2021–20282032

2010

At peak
Excellent

A magnificent vintage of crystalline purity. Cool conditions produced wines of extraordinary tension and minerality.

2015Peak 2020–20322040

2008

Drink now
Excellent

A superb vintage of freshness and elegance. Cool conditions produced taut, mineral wines with brilliant acidity.

2013Peak 2017–20242028

2005

Drink now
Excellent

An excellent vintage of concentration and depth. Hot, dry conditions produced powerful wines with ripe fruit and good structure.

2010Peak 2015–20252030

Appellations

Regional Appellations

Crémant de Bourgogne

Traditional method sparkling wines from across Burgundy, made from Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Aligoté.

Bourgogne AOC

The regional appellation for red and white wines from anywhere in Burgundy. Often excellent value.

Bourgogne Aligoté

Crisp, mineral white wines from the Aligoté grape, grown throughout the region.

Bourgogne Passe-Tout-Grains

A blend of Gamay and Pinot Noir, light and easy-going.

Terroir & Character

Climate

continentalwarm summersmaritimecold winters

Continental climate with cold winters and warm summers, moderated by maritime influences. The marginal growing conditions create elegant wines with bright acidity and complex aromatics, though vintage variation can be significant.

Terroir

diverse soilsmarlclaylimestone

The famous Côte d'Or features limestone-rich soils with varying amounts of clay and marl on east-facing slopes. Chablis sits on ancient Kimmeridgian limestone with fossilized oyster shells, while the varied geology throughout creates distinct microclimates that give each vineyard its unique personality.

Typical Aromas

red cherrywet limestoneforest floorrose petalswhite trufflehazelnut
Explore the aroma wheel

Classification System

Burgundy classifies its vineyards into a strict quality hierarchy based on terroir. The best plots have been identified over centuries.

Grand Cru

The finest vineyards, just 1% of production

Premier Cru

Exceptional named vineyard sites

Village

Wines from a specific commune

Régionale

Broad regional appellations like Bourgogne

Grapes of Burgundy

Chardonnay

white
Body
Sweetness
Acidity
green applelemonpearmelon

Steely, mineral, unoaked

Pinot Noir

red
Body
Tannins
Sweetness
Acidity
strawberryraspberryred cherryviolet

Thin-skinned grape with naturally low tannin. Typically made as a single varietal; also used extensively for Champagne and other sparkling wines.

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes Burgundy wine special?▼
Burgundy is special because of its incredibly complex terroir - a patchwork of carefully classified vineyards that produce wines of extraordinary elegance and complexity. The region's unique limestone soils and continental climate create perfect conditions for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay to express pure, distinctive flavors that can't be replicated anywhere else in the world.
What are the best Burgundy vintages?▼
Recent standout vintages include 2022 (excellent for both reds and whites), 2021 (superb whites with great tension), and 2020 (exceptional across the board). The 2020 reds are particularly special and will be remembered for generations, while 2022 delivered power and generosity from the warm, dry growing season.
What grapes are grown in Burgundy?▼
Burgundy focuses almost exclusively on two noble grapes: Pinot Noir for the reds and Chardonnay for the whites. There are tiny amounts of other varieties like Aligoté and Gamay, but these two stars represent 99% of what makes Burgundy legendary.
Is 2022 a good year for Burgundy?▼
2022 is excellent for Burgundy - it earned a perfect 5/5 rating for reds and 4/5 for whites. The hot, dry conditions from bud break through harvest produced wines with remarkable power and generosity for the reds, while the whites show outstanding concentration and depth.
When should I drink Burgundy 2022?▼
For 2022 Burgundy whites, you can start enjoying them now through about 2030-2032, as they have great power and concentration. The 2022 reds will benefit from 3-5 years of aging and should drink beautifully from 2027 through 2040, given their generous structure and excellent vintage quality.
What food pairs well with Burgundy wines?▼
Burgundy Pinot Noir is magical with duck, game birds, mushroom dishes, and classic Burgundian fare like coq au vin or beef bourguignon. The Chardonnays pair beautifully with roasted chicken, lobster, creamy cheeses like Époisses, and dishes with rich, buttery sauces - the wine's elegance complements rather than overwhelms the food.
How does Burgundy compare to Bordeaux?▼
Burgundy and Bordeaux are completely different styles - Burgundy focuses on single varietals (Pinot Noir and Chardonnay) that emphasize elegance, finesse, and terroir expression. Bordeaux uses blends of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and others to create more powerful, structured wines. Think of Burgundy as poetry and Bordeaux as prose - both beautiful, but in very different ways.

Map data: INAO, Cadastre, manual adjustments