Note from the '09 harvest in Burgundy

[BlueOx]

The following is taken from a note I received from Michael McAndrew, our friend and guide, who lives in Puligny Montrachet (http://www.frenchwineroutes.com/) about this year's grapes.

-----------------------------------
We are enjoying an extended autumn with temperatures in the high teens (centigrade!).
The forecast here is for a mild December with a little snow in January. Demand at the Vente des Vins was stronger with prices for Hospice de Beaune Reds up to 30% higher than 2008.

11th November was solemnly celebrated all over France. The mayor made a speech in front of assembled villagers at the war memorial, then they played the Marseillaise before repairing for a glass (or two) of wine from the commune vineyard - it's the sauce to spice the event!

They say that 2009 will be a great vintage for Cote de Beaune & Cote de Nuits Reds & Whites. The vignerons are delighted with their recolte (harvest). Both quality & volume were high. The Spring was warm & sunny which encouraged full & timely flowering. There was a lot of warm sun in the early summer but rainfall was adequate. There was some hail early on but this fell before the fruit began to set & so damage was insignificant. Weather in August was cooler than normal with quite a bit of rain but early in September, a couple of weeks before the vendange, we enjoyed a prolonged spell of dry, sunny weather. These things all combined to produce an abundance of grapes which ripened uniformly. There was no rot & sugar content was exceptionally high.
I can collect a bottle of fresh grape juice from the neighbours as they are pressing - this year it was particularly delicious & sweet. Since then we have been able to sample fermenting must & it was almost palatable from the barrel - with evidence of great potential.

Chablis etc did not fair so well weather-wise & parts of Beaujolais suffered extensive loss from hail.

[crw77]

They've been raving about the vintage, big time. '49, '59, '69, '79, '89, '99 and now '09. If it ends in a nine, it's a great year.

Well, caveat emptor. I'm sure it's good, but whenever a new vintage is released the story tends to revolve around reasons why you should buy it. Time (and tasting) will tell.