En PrimeurBurgundy 2024 Vintage Report

We are delighted to share our Vintage Report. With new additions to our portfolio accompanying Armit's historic allocations, we are confident that there will be something for all tastes and budgets. Please don't hesitate to contact the team if you have any questions.

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Burgundy 2024

A new vintage in Burgundy always brings a sense of anticipation. Few other regions capture the dialogue between nature and winemaker to such a nuanced degree and across such complex and varied terroir. It’s especially the case in 2024, when winemakers fought to stay one step ahead of rainfall, mildew and hail – to name just some of the unrelenting challenges wrought by nature. But despite record low yields and exhausted winemakers, what was harvested and captured in the bottle is wholly compelling.

“If only I could make wine like this every vintage”
- Domaine Blain-Gagnard

With 2024, we see a return to a classic style – and what an appealing one it is. It’s an elegant and refreshing contrast to the hot, solar vintages of recent years, and as Alexis Aubin at Domaine Georges Roumier in Chambolle-Musigny observed, “2024 achieves a sense of place that could be overshadowed by how potent the solar vintages were before.” The Pinot Noir is firmly in the red-fruit register, supple in texture and precise in its expression of site. The Chardonnay is pure, lithe and crystalline. There’s a real sense of finesse, restrained tension, and grace.

“It’s a classic vintage”
– Domaine Ghislaine Barthod

From our recent visits to Burgundy, it’s apparent that the 2024s are not showy wines, but distinctly elegant expressions that invite you to return to them as they unfurl in the glass. They offer subtlety and restraint. This makes 2024 a fitting contrast to warmer vintages like 2023, 2022, 2020, 2019 and 2018. The best wines are outstanding; they are a joy to taste and will reward time in the cellar. “If only I could make wine like this every vintage,” remarked Jean-Marc Blain of Domaine Blain-Gagnard in Chassagne-Montrachet.

The Growing Season

That the 2024s are so good is remarkable given the challenges of the season. Michel Mallard called it “a rescue vintage” and it’s easy to understand why. A mild and rain-soaked winter (averaging 3°C, with double the usual rainfall between October and March) was followed by early budbreak over the warm Easter weekend, nearly ten days ahead of schedule. Frost and hail struck repeatedly in April and May, Chablis suffering the worst of the damage. Incessant wet weather throughout Spring and Summer increased the risk of mildew. Flowering began in early June, with coulure (the failure of flowers to turn into fruit) and mildew drastically reducing yields. Thankfully, August brought relief: fine, dry weather that ripened the surviving fruit. Mathilde Grivot at Domaine Jean Grivot described it as “a humbling vintage”, determined by meticulous vineyard work and triage. The result, as Nicolas Rossignon at Domaine Rossignol-Trapet explains, was “a year with great depth and much elegance.”

The Pinot Noir

The Pinot Noir, with its thin skin, was the most severely affected by mildew, with losses exceeding 80% in instances and some cuvées not produced at all. The harvest commenced between 16^th-18^th September, with the surviving grapes offering a vibrant red-fruit character, excellent acidity, and moderate alcohol.

In contrast to 2021, a vintage that frequently came up in conversation, 2024 is distinguished by its surprising concentration and density. As Jaeok Chu Cramette of Domaine d’Eugenie in Vosne-Romanée remarked, “2024 has much more structure and density than 2021”. Meanwhile, Romain Taupenot at Domaine Taupenot-Merme explained how “the crops that remained in 2024 were healthy and small, giving us outstanding concentration. In 2021, by contrast, the berries were so large.”

The Chardonnay

The team at Domaine Faiveley told us how the Chardonnay flowered just before the Pinot Noir and thus escaped the worst of the rain, suffering less coulure and millerandage. Naturally more resistant to mildew, the Chardonnay experienced less yield reductions. Harvest began marginally earlier than the Pinot, from 13^th September. Céline from Domaine Fontaine-Gagnard in Chassagne-Montrachet spoke about the “notably healthy fruit, with easy fermentations and particularly high malic acid, giving impressive vibrancy and intensity.” She added: “We had forgotten this type of vintage, but when you open the bottle, you’ll finish it quickly.” Meanwhile, Sabine Mollard at Domaine Marc Morey in Chassagne-Montrachet told us: “These are the kinds of vintages we love in Burgundy, full of energy and vivacity.”

Chablis tells a harsher story. The Grand Cru vineyards suffered losses of up to 95%, following three rounds of hail – the worst on 1^st May, just before flowering. This was combined with intense disease pressure from twice the average rainfall. Many cuvées were not produced at all, but the wines that survived are extraordinary. “Electric, with a citrus backbone, structure, and plenty of weight,” Samuel Billaud explained.

In conclusion

Volumes may be reduced across the Côte d'Or and Chablis, but the quality is undiminished. The best wines of 2024 offer luminosity and composure. For those who favour the subtleties that make Burgundy unique - finesse, precision, tension and supple texture – the vintage makes a compelling addition to the cellar.

“These are the kinds of vintages we love in Burgundy, full of energy and vivacity.”
- Domaine Marc Morey

It is worth noting that 2025 is also limited. Brian Sieve from Domaine de Montille pointed out that the two harvests together are roughly equivalent in size to the production of 2023. We will do our utmost to secure the wines you desire, and if you have any questions whatsoever, the team will be delighted to assist.

What's going on in Burgundy

The Burgundy landscape is shifting to a broader vintage offering with producers opting for later releases throughout the year. For the first time, we are delighted to include in our brochure Armit’s historic allocations from Domaine Hubert Lamy, Domaine François Raveneau, Domaine d’Eugenie and Esprit Leflaive. Please note that some of these wines are extremely limited and sold strictly by allocation later in the year. Release dates will be indicated in the brochure. We will also offer Bouchard Père & Fils’ 2023 vintage – their latest release - and the excellent but very limited Chablis from Domaine Jean-Paul & Benoît Droin.

We are also delighted to welcome some new additions to our Burgundy portfolio: Domaine Henri Gouges in Nuit-Saint-Georges, Domaine Rossignol-Trapet in Gevrey-Chambertin, Domaine Jacques Carillon in Puligny-Montrachet, Domaine Saumaize-Michelin in Pouilly-Fuissé, and Samuel Billaud in Chablis – a diverse selection that complements our portfolio. We are confident you will enjoy them as much as we do. To find out more, please contact your account manager or email clients@armitwines.co.uk.

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