drink now
Generally well-balanced, supple wines ideal for ageing
4/5
Weather Conditions
Flowering was early if somewhat uneven. June and July were unsettled, and August was hot and stormy. Rain in early September provoked a little rot, but nothing that couldn’t be coped with.
Best Appellations
Harvesting began on the Côte de Beaune on 11 September, but the best estates waited for 8 to 10 days to ensure greater ripeness as, unusually, Chardonnay ripened later than the
Pinot Noir. Yields were normal. There was some uneven ripening, but in general the wines are very good, but broader in style than 1996. Fruity but a touch soft in Chablis, but very good in the Côte Chalonnaise.
Best Producers
Bonneau du Martray; Carillon; Michel Colin-Déléger; Jean-Noël Gagnard; Comtes Lafon; Pierre Morey; Ramonet.
