“From a quantity perspective, there is an imbalance between Chardonnay and Pinot noir. It only takes a short crop for there to be tension”, sums up Pierre Gernelle, director of the federation of Burgundy negociants. “Generally speaking, the harvest was very satisfactory for the whites (Chablis and Mâcon), but insufficient for the reds (Côte d'Or and Côte Chalonnaise)”, confirms François Labet, deputy chairman of the Burgundy wine marketing bureau (BIVB).

Stressing that there was a “huge volume shortfall” for red wines, Labet points out that Burgundy is increasingly white, compounding tensions on inventories and availabilities. Although the BIVB is expecting a bountiful crop, estimated at 1.55 million hectolitres, the share of red wines has plummeted. “We estimate that there will be 75% white wine and 25% red. In the past, the ratio was one third white to two thirds red”, says Labet.