Best Burgundy Wine

Oct 27, 2023

Culture Wine

Less than 5% of French wine comes from Burgundy, but don't let this region's size fool you. Bottles from this tiny area vary in flavor, style and complexity, making a bottle of Burgundy something truly special.

"Burgundy is no more than 60 miles from North to South, and it produces some of the most beautiful profiles of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir," says Anna-Christina Cabrales, tasting director at Wine Enthusiast and Burgundy and Rhône Valley wine reviewer. "Winemakers around the world try and replicate the nuances and balance of this region."

Burgundy is a central Eastern France region that produces reds, whites, sparkling wines and rosés. From North to South, there are five primary wine-producing areas; Chablis, Côte de Nuits, Côte de Beaune, Côte Chalonnaise and Mâconnais. Each one is made up of different villages, also called communes.

Some of the villages are home to climats and/or lieu dits, both of which are delineated superior vineyards. Each are "very distinct in geology and soil composition, which is primarily clay, marl and limestone," adds Cabrales. "The decomposed marine sedimentary rocks from the Jurassic era allows the grapes to really shine and is the thread through this region."

Here, we break down everything you need to know about Burgundy wine, plus some of our favorite bottles.

Bracing tannins frame red-cherry and fresh strawberry flavors in this ripe yet svelte, focused wine. Youthful red-fruit flavors are hedonistic already but this subtly spiced Pinot Noir is perfumed by hints of forest floor and wild herb that should gain depth with time. It's best to hold till 2024 at least. The wine should improve well through 2040. —Anna Lee C. IIjima

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Notes of truffles and sweet spice mingle into rich swathes of blackberry and black-cherry nectar in this fruity, mouthfilling Pinot Noir. It's a plusher, softer expression of the Grands-Echezeaux reflective of a hot, dry vintage but maintains a graphite edge and mineral tension on the finish. At peak from 2025 to 2035, it's likely to hold further still. —A.L.C.I.

Ripe and supple in texture, this wine highlights flavors of plum confit and brandy soaked black cherries accented by smoke, char and violet petals. Vinified from a blend of whole-cluster and destemmed grapes and matured 16 months in French oak (40% to 50% new), it's freshly balanced in acidity but pliant and open in tannin structure. Approachable young, it should improve through 2030 and hold further. —A.L.C.I.

Bold, spicy aromas of charred wood and black tea leaves perfume ripe boysenberry and blackberry flavors in this wine. Sourced from organic and biodynamically farmed vines, it balances rich black fruit against an earthen, smoky undertow. Soft, pliant tannins are welcoming young but it should hit peak from 2025 and improve through 2035. —A.L.C.I.

Hints of char and licorice juxtapose ripe, piercing aromas of cassis and blueberry in this intensely ripe, supple wine. Generous and glossy on the palate, it's a black-fruited sip balanced by brisk acidity and a long, graphite finish. Best from 2024 through 2030, the wine should hold further. —A.L.C.I.

Hints of violet petals juxtapose granite and freshly dug beetroot in this deeply fruity yet earthy, savory red. Bright, ripe blackberry and raspberry flavors are juicy and forward but the wine also has a mineral intensity that's seductive. Fresh in acidity and framed by fine, penetrating tannins, it should improve through 2029 at least. —A.L.C.I.

Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are the main grapes of Burgundy. "The Pinot Noir exudes beautiful wild and sometimes concentrated red berry tones with hints of black pepper," says Cabrales. "Its bouquet or floral presentation, backed with a fine stone minerality, captivates me. The moment I smell this, I know exactly where I am."

Whereas the Chardonnay from Burgundy is "like a bright sunny day," says Cabrales. "The profile transports you to an open field where you can smell a balance between a fresh tart or ripe citrus basket. These wines’ light herbal notes and then the floral aspect is inescapable."

Along with these two grapes, there are several others permitted—albeit in much smaller quantities. Some regions can grow Sauvignon Blanc, Sauvignon Gris and Aligoté, which is like Chardonnay.

If you’ve ever had a Crémant de Bourgogne, or sparkling Burgundy wine, it likely used Chardonnay and Pinot Noir as its base blend but Aligoté, Melon de Bourgogne, Sacy, Pinot Blanc and Pinot Gris are allowed in Burgundy sparklers as well.

Like most of France, Burgundy uses a classification system to signal quality. But it can get a tad confusing.

"Think of the classification system in terms of quality level," explains Cabrales. "The entry will be at the regional level, followed by village and the most prized vineyards sitting at the Grand Cru level. Due to quality standards through the area, there are some Premier Crus, the level before Grand Cru, that some collectors would regard as Grand Cru quality."

Here's a look at Burgundy's classification from the base level up.

Regional Appellations: These bottles are labeled Bourgogne Blanc or Bourgogne Rouge and are more affordable options. They will likely be Chardonnay or Pinot Noir and can come from anywhere in the Burgundy region.

"If you’re looking to present Burgundy to friends who are unfamiliar with the region reach for these wines. They’re delightful, straightforward and easy to drink," says Cabrales.

Commune or Village Appellations: Wines from here will be labeled with the name of the village in which it's produced, like Gevrey-Chambertin, Chambolle-Musigny, Beaune, Meursault, Chassagne-Montrachet or Pouilly-Fuissé, for instance. The price tag increases from the regional level.

"These wines are a great window into village terroir and the condition of the harvest for that region," says Cabrales. "Expect a really balanced display of fruit and a greater expression of earth and terroir."

Premier Crus: Almost at the top but not quite. Premier Crus can either come from single or multiple different climats.

"These wines are about a specific soil composition and site condition," says Cabrales. "Expect various alluring profiles that can vary greatly from site to site, even if they are within a stone's throw from each other. These wines are textured and offer layers of complexity."

Grand Crus: These wines are the best of Burgundy. Less than 2% of bottles carry this label and therefore are quite expensive.

"These are simply the best and, in many cases, come from some of the oldest vines in the region," says Cabrales. "These wines are powerful, incredibly complex and arguably some of the best profiles of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir."

Chablis has its own classification system. The majority of winemakers produce bottles in two or three of these categories. Only a handful make wines in all four and Chardonnay is the only grape allowed.

Petit Chablis: Wines with this label can be made with grapes from different vineyards.

"These are fresh wines with a citrus and zesty profile with very bright acidity," says Cabrales. "Enjoy them in their youth and especially as an aperitif."

Chablis: These are the most widely available bottles. They can be made with grapes from select villages like Beines, Béru and Viviers.

"Chablis Village is your go-to when you simply want a high-acid mineral-laden wine," says Cabrales.

Chablis Premier Cru: Wines with this label can come from 40 different vineyards throughout Chabis.

"The profiles can vary due to the exposition and where it sits along the Serein River," says Cabrales. "Some might present to be a bit more austere or lean while others may exude more fruitiness. These wines have texture and a specific profile."

Chablis Grand Cru: Wines will this label come from Blanchot, Bougros, Les Clos, Grenouilles, Preuses, Valmur, and Vaudésir.

"Les Clos is the most sought after," says Cabrales. "It's the largest of the Chablis Gran Crus and the sunniest. But all are powerful and worthy of cellaring."

All products featured here are independently selected by our team, which is comprised of experienced writers and wine tasters and overseen by editorial professionals at Wine Enthusiast headquarters. All ratings and reviews are performed blind in a controlled setting and reflect the parameters of our 100-point scale. Wine Enthusiast does not accept payment to conduct any product review, though we may earn a commission on purchases made through links on this site. Prices were accurate at the time of publication.

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