| 1997 Vintage: General Appreciation |
| 1997 suffered a little because of the uneven weather conditions and led to an exceptionally early harvest, the earliest since 1982. The reds were reduced by around 50% when compared with the 1996 harvest. In terms of reputation, where the reds are concerned they got a bit of a bad rap. Sure the wines turned out lacking in concentration but the best are soft and round suited for early drinking. |
| Red Wines |
| This was a difficult vintage which required considerable balance on the part of the growers. The crop was substantially reduced and the wines turned out more forward and much lighter compared with many vintages of the decade. The top wines are charming, fruit-driven and elegant but lack depth and concentration. There are some nice wines that are drinking well now though, careful selection is required. |
| White Wines |
| The Chardonnay crop was paradoxically large but in terms of quality somewhat uneven. Many commentators initially thought this to be highly successful vintage but the wines lacked in many cases concentration and acidity were both lacking. I remain unconvinced that anything other than a handful of the very best wines will provide enjoyment today. Also a number of the 97’s have suffered from premature oxidation. |
Best Red Wines of the Vintage
| Red Wines of the Vintage |
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Gevrey Chambertin: Chambertin (Dugat-Py), Chambertin (Rousseau), Chambertin (Trapet), Chambertin Clos de Bèze (Bouhard), Chambertin Clos de Bèze (Faiveley), Chambertin Clos de Bèze (Groffier), Chambertin Clos de Bèze (Rousseau), Chapelle Chambertin (Claude Dugat), Chapelle Chambertin (Ponsot), Gevrey Chambertin Clos Saint Jacques (Fourrier), Gevrey Chambertin Aux Combottes (Dujac), Gevrey Chambertin Clos Saint Jacques (Fourrier), Griotte Chambertin (Drouhin), Latricières Chambertin (Leroy), Ruchottes Chambertin (Georges Mugneret), Ruchottes Chambertin (Christophe Roumier) Morey Saint Denis: Clos de la Roche (Dujac), Clos de la Roche (Domaine Leroy), Clos de la Roche (Hubert Lignier), Clos Saint Denis (Dujac), Clos de Tart (Mommessin) Chambolle Musigny: Bonnes Mares (Dujac), Bonnes Mares (Groffier), Bonnes Mares (Jadot), Bonnes Mares (Roumier), Bonnes Mares (Vogüé), Chambolle Musigny Les Amoureuses (Groffier), Chambolle Musigny Les Amoureuses (JF Mugnier), Chambolle Musigny Les Cras (Roumier), Musigny (Drouhin), Musigny (Jadot), Musigny (Jacques Prieur), Musigny Vieilles Vignes (Vogüé) Vougeot: Clos Vougeot (Engel), Clos Vougeot (Domaine Leroy) Vosne Romanée: Grands Échezeaux (DRC), Richebourg (Grivot), Richebourg (Anne Gros), Richebourg (Anne Gros), Richebourg (Hudelot-Noëllat), Richebourg (Leroy), Richebourg (DRC), Romanée Saint Vivant (Hudelot-Noëllat), La Tâche (DRC), Vosne Romanée Les Beaux Monts (Grivot), Vosne Romanée Cros Parantoux (Meo Camuzet), Vosne Romanée Aux Malconsorts (Sylvain Cathiard) Nuits Saint Georges: Nuits Saint Georges Les Boudots (Grivot) Aloxe Corton: Corton Clos des Cortons (Faiveley), Corton Renardes (Domaine Leroy) Savigny Les Beaune: Savigny Les Beaune Narbantons (Domiane Leroy) Pommard: Pommard Clos des Epeneaux (Comte Armand) Volnay: Volnay Clos des Chenes (Michel Lafarge), Volnay Les Taillpieds (de Montille), Volnay Taillepieds (de Montille), Volnay Santenots de Milieu (Lafon) |
Best White Wines of the Vintage
| White Wines of the Vintage |
| Pernand Vergelesses/Aloxe Corton: Corton Charlemagne (Coche Dury)
Meursault: Meursault Les Caillerets (Coche Dury), Meursault Les Perrieres (Coche Dury) Puligny Montrachet: Batard Montrachet (Domaine Leflaive), Bienvenues Batard Leflaive (Domaine Leflaive), Bienvenues Batard Montrachet (Pernot), Puligny Montrachet Les Folatieres (d’Auvenay), Puligny Montrachet Les Perrieres (Louis Carillon), Montrachet (Lafon) |
