Vintage report 2003

The "Canicule" (Heatwave)

• Reputation: The hottest summer in recorded history (at the time). Harvest began in mid-August—unheard of for Burgundy.

• Red: "Port-like." The wines are high in alcohol, low in acidity, and feature "roasted" fruit flavors (plum, chocolate, prune).

• Cote de Nuits: More successful, as the clay soils held more water.

• Cote de Beaune: Many wines felt "cooked" or jammy, though Pommard’s heavier soils fared better than Volnay’s.

• White: Generally too low in acid; many tasted "flat" or heavy. Not a year for aging whites.

• Current Status: Drink now. These wines don't follow the typical aging curve; they are eccentric curiosities that are best consumed while they still have some structural "fat."