Wines meant for aging in Burgundy
Should I put Burgundy wines in my aging cellar?
There setting up an aging cellar is a dream for many, but can seem intimidating at first. Knowing how to recognize a wine for agingIt's true, winemaking requires a certain level of expertise. However, with a few basic concepts, you too will be able to identify wines that will gain in complexity and refinement with age. In this series, we will explore the different wine regions, starting with the great Burgundy wines for aging.
The names
Burgundy has 100 different AOCs, including 36 specific vineyards classified as " grand cru They bear mythical names such as Romanée-Conti, Chambertin, Clos VougeotMusigny, but also the Montrachet Or Corton-Charlemagne in white. These rare grand crus represent the pinnacle of Burgundy wines, with exceptional guardsrequiring even ten years before it can begin to be appreciated. The same applies to the fine wines of Chablis, further north. Rarity comes at a price, however, and less affluent enthusiasts will turn to village appellations and their Premier cru wines, more affordable than the grand cru wines, but just as interesting.
For the reds, the Pinot Noirs of the Côte de Nuits offer the greatest aging potential. The wines from the communes of Gevrey-ChambertinMorey-St-Denis, Chambolle-Musigny, Vosne-Romanée Or Nuits-Saint-Georges can easily improve over ten years, or even twenty years or more for the best Premier Crus. In the Côte de Beaune, even if the Pommard While it has its place among the great red wines for aging, it is primarily the Chardonnay whites that attract collectors. In the communes of Meursault, Chassagne-Montrachet And Puligny-MontrachetThe wines should be cellared for as long as the reds mentioned above. The same applies to the best Premier cru wines of Chablis and certain climates of Pouilly Fuissé.
Finally, enthusiasts can truly enjoy bottles from more modest appellations. AOC wines Côte de Nuits Villages, Marsannay, Saint-Romain Or Auxey-Duresses, not forgetting the communes of the Côte Chalonnaise, such as Mercurey or Givry, will reach their peak in the first five years and will therefore offer all the charms of a mature wine.
The vintages
Burgundy, with its climat Continental and semi-continental wines are particularly subject to the vintage effect, which strongly influences the aging potential of the wines. Some very structured vintages, crafted for la garde, as 2005require extended aging in the cellar for the tannins to integrate, while vintages more focused on fruit, such as 2006 Or 2007 are already enjoyable in their youth. The vintage 2008, Classic, it is distinguished by a marked acidity and minerality, which prolong the lifespan of the wines, particularly the whites. 2009, A very sunny year saw the production of exceptional red wines suitable for aging, although some lacked acidity in the long run: it's best to rely on trusted producers or consult a sommelier. The year 2010, Fresh and late, it offered powerful and tannic reds as well as deep and mineral whites, capable of being kept for more than fifteen years. 2011, Early and warmer, the velvety reds and fresh whites smell wonderfully of fruit, with an aging potential of up to twelve years. 2012, Despite its climatic challenges, the vintage was enhanced by rigorous sorting, resulting in balanced wines with medium to long aging potential. 2013, with late harvests, produced structured whites and fine reds, promising after a few years. 2014, A healthy and harmonious year yields wines that are precise and concentrated, with the potential to age for eight to twelve years. Finally, 2015 remains exceptional, with complex wines capable of long aging. 2018 bright and powerful, and 2019 to the remarkable balance; 2020–2022 follow with wines that are accessible today and have the capacity to evolve from seven to ten-fifteen years depending on the terroir.