Eric-Feferberg-Getty.jpg
The chateau of Gevrey-Chambertin and its nearby vineyard
(Image credit: Eric-Feferberg / Getty)

‘The 2018 vintage is both unique and heterogeneous,’ writes Tim Atkin in his Burgundy en primeur report for Decanter.

‘More than ever, it makes sense to follow individual producers rather than villages or vineyards.’


Burgundy 2018 en primeur: Full reportTop 2018 Côte de Nuits en primeur winesTop 2018 Côte de Beaune en primeur winesTop 2018 Côte Chalonnaise & Mâconnais en primeur winesChablis 2018: Full vintage report plus top scoring wines


He says that extreme weather during the growing season has resulted in a varied vintage, but if you choose carefully, there is immense pleasure to be found in the 2018 wines and many will age well in the medium-term.

At the top end of the scale, 12 wines scored 98+ points – and they aren’t all grand crus. See the top scoring wines below.


Best Burgundy 2018: Top scoring wines


Domaine Dugat-Py, Chambertin Grand Cru, Burgundy, France, 2018

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The only thing wrong with this incredible wine - my red Burgundy of the year for the second time in succession - is that there...

2018

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Domaine Dugat-PyChambertin Grand Cru

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Domaine des Comtes Lafon, Montrachet Grand Cru, Burgundy, France, 2018

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<p>The very good news for fans of this wine - and that surely includes anyone who has been lucky enough to drink a bottle -...

2018

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Domaine des Comtes LafonMontrachet Grand Cru

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Domaine Dugat-Py, Mazis-Chambertin Grand Cru, Burgundy, France, 2018

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One of a glittering line up of Grands Crus from Dugat-Py in 2018, this entirely whole bunch-fermented Mazis-Chambertin hails from three different parcels with an...

2018

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Domaine Dugat-PyMazis-Chambertin Grand Cru

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Domaine Dugat-Py, Mazoyères-Chambertin Grand Cru, Burgundy, France, 2018

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<p>This 0.3ha vineyard covers two parcels on stony soils that always ripen early and were picked on August 29th in 2018. Rich, supple, yet not...

2018

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Domaine Dugat-PyMazoyères-Chambertin Grand Cru

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Domaine Dugat-Py, Gevrey-Chambertin, 1er Cru Fonteny, Burgundy, France, 2018

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Fonteny is a comparatively rare Premier Cru in Gevrey-Chambertin, which is a shame because it's very well located next to Ruchottes- and Mazis-Chambertin. Facing north...

2018

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Domaine Dugat-PyGevrey-Chambertin

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Domaine Arlaud, Bonnes-Mares Grand Cru, Burgundy, France, 2018

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Domaine Arlaud's eight rows of Bonnes Mares run up the slope from the bottom to the top and cover 0.2ha on red and a smaller...

2018

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Domaine ArlaudBonnes-Mares Grand Cru

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Domaine Dujac, Clos St-Denis Grand Cru, Burgundy, France, 2018

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<p>Right up there with the very best wines of the vintage in 2018, this is a beautifully refined expression of the domaine&#39;s St Denis, extending...

2018

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Domaine DujacClos St-Denis Grand Cru

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Domaine Robert Groffier, Bonnes-Mares Grand Cru, Burgundy, France, 2018

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<p>The Groffiers 1ha vineyard is at the Morey-St-Denis end of the Grand Cru, but still in Chambolle-Musigny on a mixture of mostly red with around...

2018

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Domaine Robert GroffierBonnes-Mares Grand Cru

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Domaine Robert Groffier, Chambolle-Musigny, 1er Cru Les Amoureuses, Burgundy, France, 2018

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Harvested on August 28th, such was what Nicolas Groffier calls the 'luminosity' of the vintage, this brilliant expression of a Grand Cru in all but...

2018

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Domaine Robert GroffierChambolle-Musigny

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Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, La Tâche Grand Cru Monopole, Burgundy, France, 2018

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<p>The grand old lady&#39; is how Bertrand de Villaine refers to La T&acirc;che, now planted with 50-year-old vines and responsible for one of the great...

2018

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Domaine de la Romanée-ContiLa Tâche Grand Cru Monopole

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Domaine Méo-Camuzet, Vosne-Romanée, 1er Cru Cros Parantoux, Burgundy, France, 2018

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Picked earlier than normal in 2018, but this 0.3ha parcel of 60-year-old vines is still a comparatively cool site on the slope above Vosne-Romanée. Always...

2018

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Domaine Méo-CamuzetVosne-Romanée

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Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, Romanée-Conti Grand Cru Monopole, Burgundy, France, 2018

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Yields were down because of mildew and poor flowering, which will make this world-famous wine even rarer in 2018. Made with the domaine's oldest vines,...

2018

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Domaine de la Romanée-ContiRomanée-Conti Grand Cru Monopole

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Tim Atkin MW
Decanter Premium, Decanter Magazine, Burgundy Expert

Tim Atkin is an award-winning wine journalist, author, broadcaster, competition judge and photographer. He joined Decanter as a contributing editor in 2018, specialising in Burgundy.

Aside from Decanter, he writes for an array of publications, including Harpers, The Drinks Business and Imbibe, plus his own website, TimAtkin.com.

Alongside Oz Clarke and Olly Smith, he is one of the Three Wine Men, who organise wine tasting events across the UK.

He has won over 30 awards for his work in journalism and photography. Notably, in 2018 he won his sixth Roederer Award as Online Communicator of the Year.