2019 Burgundy En Primeurs – Vintage Summary

Cru Wine is delighted to announce that we will be offering a selection of excellent 2019 Burgundy En Primeurs to our clients, beginning this week. We wanted to provide a brief summary of this very special vintage to give you an impression of what to expect from the region in 2019.

Both the reds and the whites are quite unique in style, with very impressive results from some estates.

In the Cote de Beaune, the whites share some similarities with 2015: they are opulent, rich and possess great concentration. However, the unusual combination of quite mature phenolics and high acidity in the 2019s is the differentiating factor between the two vintages. The balance of pronounced floral aromas and great depth of body due to concentrated berries is great proof of the ageing potential of these delicious wines.

In the Cotes de Nuits, the reds show great balance between acidity, alcohol and fruit which was not easy considering the climate conditions that the grapes experienced. The region suffered from two hail storms and a heatwave in July. With their naturally high level of alcohol, it was crucial for the winemaking teams to keep a certain freshness, and the important drinkability of this vintage proves that it was indeed a true success. With the reds, it is hard to compare them to another vintage because of their distinct characteristics, however the winemakers we spoke to have stated that this year is better than 2018 in terms of overall quality.

With the 2019 vintage there is room for variation in terms of style depending on the estate. The effect of adverse weather has been handled differently by many winemaking teams. Picking dates for harvest and the length of the maceration period are important variables to consider when choosing wines suited to your preferred style. Your account manager will only offer you wines that they believe strike the perfect balance and showcase the best of the vintage and you can always ask them to advise you on style.

To conclude, 2019 has been the exact reflection of climate change: increasing temperatures in unexpected times, high concentration with very rich berries. The winemakers who knew how to bring out the best of their terroir have really excelled.  It has been a year of hard work from the various winemaking teams but the results are stunning.

Cru wine will continue to offer 2019 Burgundy En Primeur in 2021 , do not hesitate to ask our team for advice.