2018 Burgundy Vintage

2018 Burgundy

Two things define the 2018 Burgundy vintage: it was the second hottest growing season on record, behind only 2003, and it produced one of the largest harvests in decades. Together, those two factors shaped a vintage of remarkable generosity, balance, and drinkability.

A wet winter and spring replenished the water table, giving the vines plenty of reserves before summer arrived. Flowering was early and even, setting a large, healthy crop. July and August turned hot, but Burgundy avoided the relentless heat spikes of 2003, while cool nights helped preserve freshness.

The size of the harvest proved to be a blessing. With more fruit on each vine, ripening progressed steadily instead of racing toward excessive sugar levels. The result is a vintage with richness and concentration, yet surprisingly good balance.

The best 2018 Burgundies don't rely on high acidity for freshness. Instead, they carry a mineral tension beneath their generous fruit, giving the wines energy and precision despite their ripe character.

More than almost any recent vintage, harvest timing separated the good from the great. Producers who picked at the right moment captured both ripeness and freshness—and those are the wines you'll find in this collection.

White Burgundy Wines

The white wines are one of the biggest success stories of 2018.

Before harvest, many feared the combination of high yields and summer heat would produce diluted or heavy wines. Instead, Chardonnay handled the generous crop beautifully. The larger yields slowed ripening just enough to preserve freshness while allowing the fruit to achieve exceptional flavor.

The result is White Burgundy with real purity and site expression. Meursault still tastes like Meursault. Chassagne still tastes like Chassagne. Rather than feeling heavy, the best wines transform their ripeness into texture, generosity, and length.

What to expect: Ripe orchard fruit, citrus, white peach, chalky minerality, a generous mid-palate, and a long, balanced finish. Alcohol levels are slightly higher than average, but the finest wines remain beautifully proportioned.

When to drink: Village wines are drinking wonderfully today, while Premier Cru and Grand Cru bottlings should continue to evolve into the early 2030s. This is a vintage made to be enjoyed, not endlessly waited on.

Red Burgundy Wines

If the whites exceeded expectations, the reds reached even greater heights.

The finest 2018 Pinot Noirs combine remarkable concentration with silky tannins, vibrant aromatics, and genuine depth. Warm conditions softened naturally firm tannins in villages like Gevrey-Chambertin, Vosne-Romanée, and much of the northern Côte de Nuits, producing wines that are both generous and beautifully structured.

The best sites—particularly those with clay-rich soils that retained moisture through the summer—delivered wines of exceptional balance. They offer immediate pleasure without sacrificing the framework needed for long-term aging, a combination that's surprisingly rare.

That said, 2018 is a vintage with personality. Alcohol levels often reach 14% or higher, and the fruit profile is unapologetically ripe. If your preference is for lean, cool-climate Burgundy, other vintages may suit you better. But in the hands of skilled growers who harvested at precisely the right moment, the wines retain freshness, elegance, and remarkable precision beneath their richness.

What to expect: Cherry, raspberry, darker berry fruit, rose petal, baking spice, silky tannins, impressive depth, and a long, energetic finish.

When to drink: Premier Cru wines are already showing beautifully, while the finest Grand Cru bottlings have another decade—or more—of graceful evolution ahead.