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Top five red Burgundy vintages ready to drink now

If you have any old bottles of red Burgundy in your cellar, now may be the right time to uncork them. Here Charles Curtis MW highlights some of the best vintages to drink right now, with a selection of recommendations from 1993 to 2015 and wines from some of the most famous producers in the region.

There is seldom a ‘wrong’ time to drink red Burgundy.

Unlike some other grapes, Pinot Noir is fairly accessible in its youth. The voluptuous aromatics, silky tannins, and rich, velvety texture make these wines easy to approach young, while the extract and fresh acidity make it one that can age for decades as well.

A better question is not ‘when is it ready?’ but ‘when is it best?’ since unlike Bordeaux or Barolo it’s not strictly necessary to wait years for a wine to open up.

However, it would be a shame to drink a great bottle from a grand cru too early, and it would be equally unfortunate not to drink a vibrant village – or regional-level wine on the fruit of its youth.


Scroll down for tasting notes and scores of top red Burgundies to enjoy now


While the question is apparently straightforward, there are several additional wrinkles.


Nine top red Burgundy wines to drink now:


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