Burgundy (Red) - 1999

Some unripe fruit and a number of dilute wines, but overall quality promises to be excellent.

Flowering took place in cool weather in June. The summer was warm and humid, and once again mildew and oidium caused problems. Moreover it was clear that the crop would be huge, and growers had to green-harvested to keep yields under control. Hot conditions from mid-August to mid-September speeded the ripening, and the harvest took place during the second half of September. Some rain fell at this time, but caused very little damage to the ripe bunches. The grapes were very healthy, acidities sound if not exceptional.

There will be some dilute wines, and some tart wines from growers who could not get their huge crop to ripen fully, but the overall quality promises to be excellent. As well as the Côte de Beaune, the Côte Chalonnaise delivered fine reds this year.