The 2005 vintage is as outstanding in Burgundy as everywhere else in France.

This is an extraordinary year for the red wines of Burgundy in both the CÙte de Beaune and especially in the CÙte de Nuits. The grapes had thick skins and ripe pips giving rapid and profound colour extraction, yet the profile of the vintage is definitely more red fruit than black. There is a marvellous refreshing mineral aspect which keeps these wines lively and dynamic - a turbo-charged 2002 perhaps. These factors set 2005 apart from other years and almost certainly pushes it above the famous 1990 and 1999 vintages.

The extended cold winter did not finish until around 10th March and ensured that all the bugs in the vineyard were killed off. There were no frost problems later on with a more restrained crop for reds. April and May were wetter than usual which happily replenished the water table in view of the drought conditions to come. Flowering started during the very hot weekend of 28th-29th May but continued for nearly three weeks as the weather turned cold again.

There was a burst of heat in late June followed by a dry but not very hot July and August. Unlike 2003 where excess heat was the problem, drought was much more of an issue in 2005 affecting young vines and those vineyards with very little topsoil. Fortunately the coolish weather meant there was relatively little hail damage.

September began with a brief burst of heat followed by much needed rain. The starting date for the harvest was set for 15th September in the CÙte de Nuits. Healthy grapes and not much foliage made picking very easy. Producers reacted by using small teams of pickers or finishing early in the day rather than hurrying through the harvest.