2012
2014
2013
2011
Thought I would give that a try, though with little to no direct experience or knowledge, so take it for what it’s worth!
(Ok, a little experience with 2012 to know I liked many wines, and a little experience with 2011 to know I thought just about everything I tried had a green or herbaceous tinge I did not like, and absolutely no experience with 2013 or 2014 which never disqualifies anyone from spouting off anyway.)
2014 is the best young white Burgundy vintage in Jasper Morris MW’s memory and definitely the best I have drunk since I got into Burgundy in the early oughts. As I am a producer, take it with or without salt.
White (Seems more clear)
2014 - Based on critical acclaim
2013 - Very fresh, similar to '08
2011 - Even, average plus. Many need time.
2012 - Very ripe, probably over the top in many cases.
Red
2012 - Ripest clearly, though not bulletproof. Bonne Mares had it rough for instance.
2013 - Great vintage for Chambolle. There was quite a bit of chaptalization though.
2014 - Not having tasted, I hear it’s similar to 13’ maybe even slightly lighter still.
2011 - Some gems, but overall just not a very good vintage for reds.
I have not had any 13s or 14s so cannot rate them. Not a big fan of 11 reds so far. 12s are good but don’t seem as lively as the 2010s. Both seem good for whites.
Sorry red. I’m pondering buying some 2011s from a top producer, even though, I’m leery of that vintage and could buy at 2012 instead at a significant premium.
And so sad that, with no solution to the premox plague in sight, one will have to drink the wines before their prime (which makes buying any upper level wines of great expense a bit of a waste) or, after 5-7 years, plan to pour a fair number down the drain (which makes the already expensive wines that survive effectively that much more expensive). I guess white burgs are just early drinkers. So I hate to hear that we have a potentially great vintage on our hands.
There are very good, even fine 2011s, but the vintage is variable, some wines have dry tannins and are lacking mid palate, sometimes with an astringent finish (from maybe too heavy extraction of hash tannins).
It also depends on when you wanna drink them. 2011s will usually be maturing earlier … the ´12s were really charming and fruity from cask and after bottling, but the strong structure is now showing, I think they will be in need of quite long cellaring. I´m not sure how much they will close down, so they might - or might not - be accessable after 8-10 years, but most will NOT be mature.
Thanks Gerhard, at age 60 not sure why I’m still buying 12s but I am. I haven’t dipped my toes into 2011 except for some bourgognes which have been fine. I’m looking at 2011 Gevrey Chambertin Grand Cru from a reliable producer and may still pull the trigger with the drink them younger theory in mind. I’ll buy some 14s because that’s my grandson’s birth year. Had a few 13s and so far I’m not on the band wagon.
I would buy 2013 over either 11 or 12. For me, 12 was a little rustic and rough in a lot of cases. 11 is generally light, decent wines, but lacks depth and intensity (all generalizations, of course, each wine is unique and there are exceptions). I’ve quite liked most of the 13s I’ve tasted. Search back over the La Paulee threads from each year to find my notes and others.
My recommendation is to buy the 2011s. There is no reason to fear the 2011 bogeyman created by a few as there are lots of beautiful wines that will be ready long before the dense 2012s and which will always be more nuanced, transparent and interesting.