keep
Not quite as good as preceding years, but most wines are good for the medium term
Weather Conditions
Flowering was early if somewhat uneven. June and July were unsettled, and August was hot and stormy. Rain in early September provoked a little rot, but nothing that couldn’t be coped with. Harvesting began on the Côte de Beaune on 11 September, but the best estates waited for 5 to 10 days to ensure greater ripeness. Yields and ripeness levels were variable. The reds were healthy and ripe, but soft in structure, with low acidity.
Best Appellations
Some growers, especially in the Côte de Nuits, were very happy with the vintage; others produced attractive charming wines for medium-term drinking. Generalisations about the 1997s are especially dangerous.
Best Producers
Marquis d’Angerville; Comte Armand; Robert Arnoux; Ghislaine Barthod; Jean-Marc Boillot; Chandon de Briailles; Jean Chauvenet; Bruno Clavelier; Yvon Clerget; Forey Père & Fils; Henri Gouges; Jean Grivot; Michel Lafarge; Comtes Lafon; Hubert Lignier; Méo-Camuzet; Gérard Mugneret; Dr. Georges Mugneret/Mugneret-Gibourg; Jacques-Frédéric Mugnier; Emmanuel Rouget; Georges Roumier; Christian Sérafin; De Vogüé.
Plus the following merchants for both colours: Bouchard Père & Fils; Drouhin; Vincent Girardin; Jadot; plus Faiveley for red wines and Morey-Blanc for white wines.
