1978 vintage guide for White Burgundy

drink soon

A small crop of fruity well-balanced wines

4/5

Weather Conditions

Despite a particularly cold, wet spring and first part of summer, a change in weather during the first week of August encouraged the crop to ripen well, almost a month behind schedule. Sunny conditions prevailed until the late harvest in mid-October. The Chardonnay did particularly well under these conditions, as it did not become over-ripe.

Best Appellations

The 1978s were fullish, with good acidity, but with a certain solidity which never mellowed as satisfactorily as the 1979s. Yet there were some fine wines, and the best of these may be a little more vigorous than the 1979s. But beware. Few whites last more than 20 years. At the time better in Corton-Charlemagne and Puligny than Meursault or Chassagne.

Best Producers

Robert Ampeau, Bonneau du Martray, Lafon, Latour, Leflaive, Leroy, Ramonet.