What Is The Burgundy 2022 Vintage Like, and What Will the Future Bring?
In this article, we’ll take a look at how the wines of the Burgundy 2022 vintage are shaping up and what the future could hold for them. But first, what do we mean when we talk about the “vintage” of a wine?
The term “vintage” is often used in relation to wine and many other things too, but it’s not always well-understood. Does it simply mean old, or does it refer to good quality or the best of something? In its own way, it can mean all of these things. Essentially, for a wine, the term “vintage” refers to the year in which the grapes were harvested. This is a crucial marker because it can impact the wine’s taste, quality, aging potential, collectability, and value.
Wines that lack a vintage date are usually blends of several years, and while they are generally consistent and of fair quality, they are not likely to be the best or most memorable you’ll ever taste. You may notice that some non-vintage wines are labelled as N.V., especially fortified or sparkling wines.
When pairing wines with food, keep in mind that vintage wines should be enjoyed with carefully chosen food combinations that will truly bring out the best qualities of their vintage.
Why Vintage Matters – Especially in Burgundy
Before we discover our expert Dennis’s thoughts on the Burgundy 2022 vintage, let’s find out why vintages matter in Burgundy. The vintage of a wine is particularly important in the Burgundy region, where the terroir and weather have a significant impact on the final product. Extreme weather conditions such as excessive heat, rain, drought or frost can cause problems and affect both the quality and quantity of the wine produced.
In our region of Bourgogne, the wines are mainly single varietals. This means that every plot of land gives each vintage its unique personality and characteristics. Grape varieties grown in Bourgogne, such as Pinot Noir, are particularly sensitive to weather conditions that can affect acidity levels and therefore the taste of the wine.
Too much sun can cause grapes to dry out and become raisins on the vine, resulting in bitter wines that are sometimes referred to as ‘flabby’. On the other hand, a season that is too wet or cold can result in unripe grapes that are prone to disease or rot. In the Chablis region to the north, hailstorms and frosts can be devastating, which is why you might see small fires, candles, or oil burners lit overnight to keep the temperature up.
Vintage vs Vintner
In some years, unfavorable weather conditions may force winemakers to modify the date they harvest the grapes. They may also need to rely on their years of experience to minimize the impact of a poor harvest.
However, the winemaker isn’t completely at the mercy of nature and can use a range of techniques to compensate for any difficult weather conditions. This might include using different types of yeast during fermentation or adjusting the alcohol or color levels as necessary. Nonetheless, an exceptional winemaker will always aim to enhance or adjust the wine rather than completely transform it.
Burgundy 2022 Vintage: From Dennis’s Notebook
Here’s Dennis Sherman’s view of how the harvest went in 2022 and what the aging potential of Burgundy 2022 vintage wines is looking like:
“The winemakers in Burgundy had a successful 2022 harvest, replenishing their cellars after three consecutive years of low-quantity vintages. Though the growing season faced challenges such as frost, heat, and drought, the damage was less severe than in previous years due to better timing. The winter of 2021-22 had below-average rainfall and seasonal temperatures, causing the vines, especially Chardonnay, to bud early.
Despite two nights of below-zero temperatures, the damage was limited. Spring conditions set in by mid-April, followed by a dry and hot summer with spiky heat waves, leading to nearly perfect flowering. While there was a fear that the beautiful fruit would shrivel due to drought, rain finally arrived at the end of June, with intermittent but regular rainfall in the following weeks.
Summer storms also occurred, causing some limited hail damage. The heat waves continued through the rains, leading to concerns about fungal disease associated with wet conditions. However, the grapes ripened well despite the dry conditions, with an over-ripe harvest anticipated in mid-August.
Fortunately, rain came just in time to increase the volume of juice harvested in the first week of September. The 2022 wines, both white and red, exhibit real depth and ripeness, with early barrel tastings showing enormous charm and vitality, making them very promising.”
Indeed, when the rains did come, they came with such force for some villages that they sometimes caused flooding – take Gevrey-Chambertin, for example, where large amounts of mud and soil were actually washed down from the vineyards and into some unfortunate hotel owners’ cellars. (This is an interesting parallel with how the best slopes of Burgundy were originally formed thousands of years ago, when the soil around the mouths of small rivers washed down the valley, creating fertile soils for growing some of the best grapes in the world in.)
Other commentators have pointed to how morish the wines of 2022 have become, praising their balance and approachability whilst young. Some pointed out that 2022 was in fact the second-hottest summer since 2003, and that that meant wines of ripe fruitiness and a wonderful poise and balance.
Discover Burgundy 2022 Vintage Wines at Domaine de Cromey
In our tasting facility located at Domaine de Cromey, we have repurposed a sixteenth-century former winemaking facility into a unique combination of a private members’ club and a sports bar with a touch of grandeur. This historic building was once the most prominent winemaking facility in the area, supplying wine to the nobles who resided in Chateau de Cromey. Today, after centuries, the building is once again being used for winemaking and serves as our main tasting room. We take pride in seeing people enjoy wine in this historic setting after 400 years. While the original construction has been carefully preserved, we have also added modern updates to make it suitable for wine tasting and related activities. Why not experience the Burgundy 2022 vintage for yourself with us this year?
Did you know: To find wines of a particular vintage on BurgundyWine.com by Elden Selections, just type the vintage into the search bar at the top of the page. You can also read more articles about life at the Domaine de Cromey here, our home in Burgundy, where you can book your next Burgundy vacation. And don’t forget to have a look at our Burgundy Wine Club, open for membership now!