After the summer pause, when the whole of France decides to go on holiday, September is about harvesting. Well usually! The harvest was a late one this year, with most of the Côte de Nuits finishing in October.

So, a report with plenty of 2016 vintage info, plus a more in-depth look at what the harvest delivered and its potential. Given the late harvest, some producer visits to taste were possible before the harvest this year – normally that doesn’t work – so you will find a little Beaujolais and much more Côte d’Or – the first 2015s ‘officially’ tasted. Officially? Well I get to taste all year, but I wait until they are well down the route of elevage (12 months) before I consider actually writing a note for others to see.

There is also an open (i.e. not just for subscribers) piece on Maison Ilan – open because it’s important from a consumer perspective.

September 2016.

Was in Burgundy Thursday-Friday; Both days were freezing and foggy/misty – only about -2°C but the modest wind made it feel much cooler – a bit more about that tomorrow.

Anyway returning to a weekend of hard typing has provided enough of the Autumn Report for me to release it. The compendiums of notes for bottled 2006’s plus the rest, will trickle through in the next days.