(Please see here for my overview on 2018 in the Côte d’Or.)
Mathilde Grivot said that harvesting began on 11 September — in hot years, the Pinot Noir is constructed around the tannins (something I pointed out years ago when initially reporting on the 2003s). By harvesting this late there was the opportunity for rain several days before to fully allow for ripening of the tannins. She said that sugars did not change, but the acidities concentrated: pHs around 3.50, total acidity in the range of 3.1-3.3.
As is customary at Grivot, grapes were entirely destemmed. Quantities are generous — only five barrels below the maximum for the cellar. Malo-lactic fermentations were quicker than usual (this cellar is usually quite slow): finishing in February to April for the Bourgogne and village wines, later for the 1er cru and grand cru wines.
The Bourgogne and the village wines have 20% new oak, the 1er crus 30-35%, and the grands crus 35-50%.
Although it often is true in this vintage that for late picking, the wines are ripe and even overripe (and often less good the quality than wines from earlier in the vintage), these wines stand out as counter-examples to such a generalization.
2018 Bourgogne Pinot Noir
Pure, fresh strawberry fruit; light and pleasing. (87-89)
2018 Vosne-Romanée
Spicy red fruits in the nose. Good acidity, medium-light body, nervy, Vosne spice red fruit flavors. (88-91)
2018 Nuits-Saint-Georges Aux Lavières
Light, spicy red fruits, good purity and freshness. Elegant. (88-90)
2018 Nuits-Saint-Georges Les Charmois
Darker fruit than the Lavières, denser, more powerful, but still fresh, balanced, elegant. (89-91)
2018 Vonse-Romanée Bossières
Floral, Vosne spice red fruit aromas. Vosne spice red fruit flavors, good density and length in the mouth. Good drive. From very old vines, tends to mature quickly. (89-92)
2018 Chambolle-Musigny La Combe d’Orveaux
Darker fruit than the Bossières with a bit of sappiness to it. Some tannic structure, but overall impression is one of finesse. (89-91)