2018 was a hot, dry year, which generally yielded large crops. Picking dates in these conditions were crucial, to obtain the desired flavour profile without overripe fruit and potentially high alcohol levels. Thankfully, the previous years abundant rain ensured much-needed water reserves, to maintain freshness through the heat of this vintage.
The wines we tasted and loved were classically styled, with alcohol levels around the 13% mark; whilst others were variable, overripe and jammy (and over 15%!). Never has the adage of following the grower been more true - great advice for 2018 Burgundies.
Of course it is early days, but for the reds, we were offered comparisons to 1990, 1999, a fresher 2015 and mix of 2003 and 2009! This is potentially a great vintage but certainly not a uniform one.
Seckford has followed the growers for you and we think the wines in this offer showcase the wonderful style of the vintage across the Cote; from Gevrey, Vosne, Morey and Chambolle, right through to our delicious Pernand Vergellesses from the rising star of Joannet.
The resulting wines we’ve chosen have an up-front appeal - with bright, juicy fruit, that is balanced with an energetic freshness and fine, ripe tannins. Some have a long life ahead of them and others will be ‘ready to go’, so please discuss requirements with your account manager and snap up these vinous gems before they are gone.
Download our 2018 Burgundy brochure
Download the list as an Excel spreadsheet
Domaine Lignier-Michelot (Morey St Denis)
Virgile is a passionate and thorough winemaker, who took over from his father in 2000. Relentless work in the vineyards and cellar has paid off and his 2018s display a wonderful, soft-sweet freshness for the vintage. The wines are deep in colour, with structure and bright Pinot purity. The majority are produced using whole clusters, with 30% new oak. Sublime wines from a perennial Seckford favourite.
12 hectare holding - began picking on 8th September.
Domaine Boursot (Chambolle Musigny)
Brothers Romaric and Romuald Boursot are the new (15th!) generation here at this up and coming domaine in Chambolle. They are refining their methods year on year and have excelled in the 2018 vintage. Owning just over four and a half hectares, they produce stunningly pure Pinot Noir. A little new oak (around 30%) and mostly 100% destemmed, they likened the vintage to 2015 with a touch more freshness - yes please!
Domaine Michel Joannet (Marey-les-Fussey)
Thirty seven year-old Fabien Joannet has a quiet confidence that shows through in his wines. Under the radar and tucked away up in the Hautes Cotes, he makes simply delicious wines at an affordable price (no easy feat in Burgundy nowadays), that are pure pleasure to drink and enjoy. With an impressive 16ha holdings of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, these wonderfully bright and fresh wines showcase what can be done in the ‘lesser’ appellations. Oh and he makes a decent Vosne Romanee too! Now on his 12th vintage. The labels still need some work but the wines don’t…
Jean-Marie Fourrier (Gevrey Chambertin)
Jean-Marie continues to produce some of the purest Pinot Noir in Burgundy and doesn’t disappoint in 2018. We are delighted to offer a wine that punches well above its weight. His Bourgogne Rouge is available in both bottles and magnums.
Domaine Hubert Lignier (Morey St Denis)
As is customary with Hubert Lignier, he releases his wines later than others and so we are delighted to offer our new allocation of 2017s alongside a couple of 2018s. The 2017s are silky, wonderfully concentrated and with lively acidity. Hail struck the vineyard holdings so production across the domaine is down. Hubert Lignier is one of those growers who is on the move and these wines are becoming increasingly hard to find after release. An allocation we cherish!
Domaine Louis Boillot (Chambolle Musigny)
Owning significant holdings in the Cote de Beaune and Cote de Nuits, Louis Boillot has some wonderful sites; a lot of small plots of very old vines, he is making stunning wines. Sharing the cellars in Chambolle with his wife Ghislaine Barthod and producing for his own label since 2003, this is a domaine producing first class results and in our opinion, flying a little under the radar. Don’t miss these wines.
Harvest begun on the 25th August. Wines are 100% destemmed, with around 20% new oak.
Louis Boillot (Beaujolais)
Not content simply on making top class Burgundy, Louis and his son Clement are making some of the most extraordinarily delicious wines you’ll find in Beaujolais. Cru wines with their own unique characters - these are stunning wines and exceptional value for the quality. After purchasing the sites in 2013, the 2014 vintage was their first. Now really hitting their stride, these are wines made with all the care and attention of his Burgundies, and Louis is quite rightly very proud of the results. We think you’ll be pleased too…