BIVB发来邮件向各国记者通报2012年勃艮第采收状况，2012一个珍惜的年份。还是很真诚实际的写出了当年的天气状况和面临的挑战。

春寒带早霜，坐果millerandage的情况屡见不鲜，造成今年多小果粒葡萄。热浪和冰雹共存的夏季有非常大的不稳定性，有时过高的温度也让少部分果粒受损，白粉病和霜霉病也是今年葡萄园的常客。不过收获的葡萄大多健康，蕴含精华的小果粒也会成就不错的集中度。最终的官方报出酒庄总体有20%的减产，在夜丘的确是这个范围，博纳丘因为多受冰雹的侵袭，减产幅度较大。不过具体的数字会在明年1月报出。

手中2010年份的报价个别酒庄涨幅挺大，不知跟2012的小产量是否有关。自大好年份2009过后，2010年起始，勃艮第的酒庄一直在减产，10-20%不等。于此同时国人对勃艮第葡萄酒的热情却渐渐升温，价格的涨幅肯定会是日后勃艮第葡萄酒的热点问题。名庄酒在勃艮第无疑是质量的保证，名庄，名田，知名酿酒师，质量的三重保证让人打消疑虑。不过如果价格持续升温，因为供需的不对等，个别名庄酒的价格过分脱离群众，也许会让很多勃艮第爱好者会开始勃艮第按田索酒，追寻风土，寻找高性价比小酒庄的旅程。产区直供是否会成为盈利模式，现在还不得而知，不过至少对酒友来说这是个无上的福祉吧！

Official press release

2012: a rare and precious vintage in Bourgogne

Beaune, 12 November 2012

A first! That is what Bourgogne’s winegrowers are saying about this year’s weather. Given Mother Nature’s whims, they had to redouble their efforts to ensure the very best results from their vines. And the first tastings confirm that all their hard work was worthwhile. From the north of Bourgogne to the south, the industry is unanimous – the quality of this year’s nascent wines is excellent, surpassing all expectations given the weather.

The only downside is the quantity which is below average, down as much as 20% according to some estimates. (Definitive figures will be available in early 2013).

A mild winter, a chilly spring with frosts, a warm May, a cool and rainy June, an unstable summer, a heat wave, hail and storms – weather like this could not fail but affect the vines. The cold and rain in spring caused shatter, where some flowers fail to turn into fruit; millerandage where incomplete fertilization of the flower giving rise to small berries; and a big threat from both downy and powdery mildew. The brief hot periods in summer brought some very high temperatures that burned the fruit.

These phenomena, which occurred before the grapes ripened, meant yields were significantly lower this year, but had no impact on the quality of the grapes. On the contrary, aerated bunches of smaller berries guarantee concentration and intensity.

Having had to manage the elements and struggle on a daily basis, both man and materials have emerged from this vintage worn out, yet victorious. During the harvest, which took place under sunny skies, the grapes being welcomed into the wineries were healthy and showed no signs of disease or rot.

The scarcity of the 2012 vintage will only serve to make the wines even more precious!

White wines

These expressive wines reveal notes of fresh fruits and citrus. Forthright, they are already demonstration very good balance on the tongue.

The whites from northern Bourgogne are powerful, and translate the unique characteristics of their terroir: minerality with notes of flint and chalk.

This is a classic vintage, illustrated by the wines’ sophistication and good concentration.

Red wines

The wines are deep red in color, dense, and some are almost black.

They release rich and intense aromas of red berries. The tannins are ripe and silky, offering a lovely harmony on the tongue.

The 2012 vintage looks like a safe bet. The red wines reflect the diversity of each winegrowing region and offer a happy ending to this unusual year.

Crémant de Bourgogne

The low yields also concern the grapes for Crémant de Bourgogne wines, and the Gamay grape in particular. The Aligoté turned out to be more generous. Overall, production volumes could be down as much as 30%.

The grapes harvested were perfectly mature, combining the richness of optimum sugar content with good acidity. The Chardonnay and Pinot Noir base wines are fruity,  with lovely balance.