Les Grands Jours de Bourgogne
March 17-March 21, 2014
Since 1992, Les Grands Jours de Bourgogne is a week-long trade event that takes place every 2 years in March. Merchants from all over the world gathered in Beaune and its vicinity vineyards to taste wines from Chablis, Cote de Nuit, Cote de Beanue, Cote Chalonnaise, and Maconniase.
2,400 visitors from all over the world were reported by the organizers. European visitors still account for domainant percentage (78%). Asia now accounts for 13% of the visitors, over 50% increase from previous years, indicating the growing awareness and demand for Burgundies in the far east.
950 producers featured their wines in 15 organized tastings in the heart of the terroirs. Many producers feature their 2012 vintages, as they have limited volume of 2011 vintage left. Needless to say, availability on the 2009 and 2010 vintages are even more rare.
2012 Burgundy Vintage: Expressive and Vibrant
As a Volnay producer described, 2012 is "une annee de merde".. everything that could go wrong went wrong climate-wise. The crucial viticultural season faced bad weather. May and June were undesirably cold and wet. Vine development slowed; producers battling with mildew and oidium; late flowering resulted. Several damaging hails in Jne and August. Pommard, Volnay, and Cote de Beaune were badly hit. What was usually the life saving summer faced hot climate and many sun-burnt grapes resulted. Meticulous selection was critical in Cote de Beaune resulting in very low crops. Production down from 30% to as much as 80%. Natural alcohols in the 12-12.5% level. Even Domaine Leroy has to chaptalized a little. Many parts of Cote de Nuits, with a different terroir, were unscathed.
The overall impression of 2012 is quite delcious. Cote de Nuits Grands Crus, in particular, unaffected by the hails, performed well. They are even more balanced than many of the 2011s. The reds are more approachable than the 2005 or 2010 vintage, with plenty of fresh fruits and velvety tannins. Unlike the 2009, not over-powered, they are gentler expressions of their terroir. Reds from Cote de Beane, due to its harsh climate, has a wider variation in quality.
Good whites enjoy great acidity; while the average could have more structure. Nonetheless, they are quite expressive of their terroir.
Impressive and expressive 2012 include:
Impressive from other vintages:
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Prices will keep escalating...
Ex-cellar prices are expected to go up 20-40% as producers have to make ends meet with such low crops.
White burgundies prices are expected to increase due to the low crops in Cote de Beaune. Chablis could be a good option when it comes to value hunting.
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