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Burgundy En Primeur 2024 and the current market

Burgundy En Primeur Barrel
  • The 2024 Burgundy vintage is low volume with a classic profile
  • Informed selection of reputable domaines and appellations is essential when making purchasing decisions.
  • Burgundy wines showed signs of bounce in Q3 after steady price decline
  • The region remains a major player in the fine wine market despite shifts in Power 100 index

The 2024 Burgundy vintage is characterised by scarcity, precision, and classical elegance. A challenging growing season resulted in sharply reduced yields across the region, notably in red Burgundy wines. However, careful vineyard and winery management produced wines, albeit in smaller volumes, of exceptional quality, balance, and typicity. This is especially evident from Grand Cru and Premier Cru holdings.

This year’s En Primeur campaign unfolds against a complex market environment backdrop: previous vintages are still competing on the secondary market and fine wine pricing is showing cautious signs of stabilisation. This environment is offering collectors and investors opportunity and selectivity from the year’s best Burgundy wines.

This report examines the 2024 Burgundy vintage. It compares reds and Burgundy white wine, highlights standout domaines and appellations, and positions the campaign in a wider market context. This overview provides insights for both investment potential and enjoyment.

2024: Scarcity, vibrancy, and intensity

The defining characteristic of the 2024 Burgundy vintage is that of reduced volumes owing to a difficult growing season. Yields saw significant losses across the region, especially for red Burgundy wines. However, diligent work in the vineyard and winery resulted in wines that display a modern character with an old-school profile. The vintage is widely regarded as a year for admirers of classic, timeless Burgundy wines after a run of (with the exception of 2021) hot summers.

Chablis producer, Samuel Billaud, described the year as “a combination of 2014 (freshness and vibrancy) and 2021 (concentration and intensity of fruit).”

Climatic conditions and alcohol levels in 2024

Cool, wet conditions in spring led to coulure, resulting in reduced yields for Bourgogne red Burgundy wine. Chardonnay was not as badly affected. Spring and summer rain meant mildew and disease also posed a threat, which vignerons tried to deal with through repeated vineyard treatments where possible. Chablis was the worst affected, with yields often under 10hl/ha (usually 50hl/ha). The Côte de Nuits hovered around 15hl/ha. In the Côte de Beaune, red Burgundy grapes yields were at around 50% of typical levels. Chardonnay fared better at about 40hl/ha. Some areas, like the Mâconnais, had normal yields for Mâcon Burgundy. Lower-lying vineyards suffered more than mid-slope holdings. Localised hailstorms also added stress to vineyards. A clement late summer and a cool, dry north wind helped salvage the harvest.

  • Chardonnay’s greatest terroirs benefited from the cool, accentuating typicity and depth.
  • Pinot Noir’s low yields ultimately meant good phenolic maturity and intense ripeness.

Domaines demonstrated meticulous vineyard management and rigorous sorting to mitigate the impact of mildew. Potential alcohol levels across the vintage largely fell short of 13% abv. Some winemakers mitigated this with selective chaptalisation by half a degree. Both tartaric and malic acidities were higher than the previous year. During élevage, this resulted in softer, creamier acidity in fresh, zippy wines.

Reds vs white Burgundy wines: the essence of vintage quality

Like the previous vintage, 2024 was the year of Chardonnay, but Pinot Noirs also displayed grace, character, and balance. Many commenters noted that modern vineyard and winery methods had made finessed red Burgundy wines possible in conditions that would have written off Pinot Noir even just 25 years ago. The consensus was that the style for both reds and whites was traditional and classic, with a modern elegance.

Burgundy white wine featured:

  • Fresh acidity
  • Restrained, concentrated citrus
  • Precise minerality and structure

Grand Crus and Premier crus benefited from the cool weather conditions more than the Villages sites located on lower slopes. Standout appellations include: 

  • Puligny Montrachet wine, such as Les Caillerets
  • Chablis Grand Cru Les Preuses
  • Chevalier Montrachet Grand Cru 

Burgundy Pinot Noir is one of the recent best Burgundy years for:

  • Small quantities
  • Concentrated fruit
  • Elegant, precise profiles

The vintage’s Pinot Noir yields were greatly reduced by the weather, but the wines were classic, expressive, and understated. Carefully timed harvest and stringent sorting resulted in reds with transparency, a core of red fruit, and supple tannins. 

Notable successes include:

  • Gevrey Chambertin Les Dix Climats
  • Volnay 1er Cru Clos des Chenes

Overall, producers such as Samuel Billaud, Domaine Drouhin-Laroze, Pierre-Vincent Girardin, Domaine Y. Clerget, and Simon Colin have been praised for fresh, chiselled Burgundy wines with dynamism and terroir transparency.

Comparing 2023 vs 2024 Burgundy

Comparisons between the 2023 and 2024 Burgundy vintages are inevitable.

  • 2023: Large quantities, wide variability, precision-driven wines
  • 2024: Low volumes (notably of Burgundy red wine grapes), classic, elegant wines with concentrated fruit

Several growers and critics have noted similarities between 2024 and great Burgundy vintages for key characteristics: 2014 for its Burgundy quintessence and 2021 for its intense fruit.

Buyers should approach 2024 with a focus on appellation and domaine, rather than a broad perspective. 

Burgundy 2024 in market context

The Burgundy En Primeur 2024 campaign unfolds against a unique market backdrop.

  • The volumes of 2023 and 2024 mean that there is the potential for competition from previous vintage stock
  • Following a 5-year steady decline in prices, in Q3 2025, Burgundy showed signs of stabilisation with a slight bounce in prices
  • Out of the leading fine wine regions, Burgundy wines had the most movement in the Power 100 index, with ten brands dropping out and nine entering
  • Most climbers are mid-range wines priced under £2,000 in a movement towards prioritising Burgundy to enjoy, not solely as an investment asset
  • Top tier in the Classification Report dominated by Burgundy
  • The region retains a 25–30% share of the global fine wine market, underlining its enduring importance
  • Burgundy continues to demonstrate resilience driven by scarcity and long-term demand

Overall, the best Burgundy wine still constitutes a market juggernaut, but demand is price sensitive. Burgundy vs Bordeaux wine (the dominant fine wine region) comparisons will be accentuated by the En Primeur pricing approach. Commentators and producers alike project Burgundy prices to be reasonable despite a low-volume vintage.

Pricing strategies and producer behaviour

Understanding market conditions, many producers are flexible about their 2024 pricing approach.

Key influencers include:

  • Lower yields by themselves do not automatically justify higher release prices
  • Pricing impacted by values of back vintages of Burgundy wines
  • Producers face margin pressure, but stock inactive in the supply chain has no advantages
  • Burgundy learned that Bordeaux En Primeur overpricing in recent years reduces incentive for early buying
  • Low yields mean the best 2024 wines could be fiercely contested

More limited 2024 yields compared to 2023, sensible pricing, and lessons from Bordeaux hint that demand will be robust for the scarcest, highest-quality wines.

Competition from the secondary market

A key influence on the Burgundy En Primeur 2024 campaign is competition from the secondary market.
Well-stored top rated Burgundy wines from recent strong vintages are maturing well and available at attractive prices. Additionally, market softening has made buyers and investors less willing to purchase at any price. The options are to:

  • Secure 2024 En Primeur at fair pricing (“fair” meaning Bordeaux vs Burgundy En Primeur pricing referenced above)
  • Choose established older vintages with track records

This landscape puts pressure on producers for reasonable pricing and rewards buyers who carefully assess value across multiple vintages.

How buyers should approach Burgundy En Primeur 2024

With such low yields and varied performance across appellations and even plots, the 2024 campaign demands a selective and discerning approach rather than indiscriminate buying.

Essential takeaways:

  • Reduced volumes
  • Pressure to price according to market
  • Classic styles (reds and Burgundy whites)
  • Grand Crus and top Premiers Crus across regions in Burgundy benefited most from the cool, precise vintage
  • Signs of gradual market uptick 

Whether or not 2024 is one of the best Burgundy vintages is not of prime importance. What is critical is that, with its classic styles, low quantities, and appearance at a time when the market hints at upward correction, 2024 could present competitive opportunities for selective investors.

Burgundy’s enduring strength

Despite short-term market shifts, Burgundy’s long-term fundamentals remain robust:

  • Exceptional vineyards
  • Strong global demand
  • Enduring, prestigious cultural and historical legacy
  • Consistent scarcity at the very top tier of Burgundy wines

The 2024 En Primeur campaign puts in relief a region responding to market and climate pressures while maintaining the qualities that make good Burgundy wine such a consistently prized segment. 

Final thoughts on Burgundy En Primeur 2024

The 2024 Burgundy vintage offers a rare combination of low volumes, selective quality, and evolving pricing strategies at a moment when the fine market has signalled a bounce following pricing decline.

The finest Burgundy wine examples – particularly among the best white Burgundy – display precision, vitality, and strong value. 

Jasper Morris MW says …”a miserable growing season does not have to translate into miserable wines”, adding, “Do not boycott 2024 – there are many delicious wines which merit attention”

Neal Martin (Vinous) says: “2024 is an endlessly fascinating vintage that will enamour the small number who imbibe the fruits of much labour.”

For informed investors, the present market conditions create a strategic window to engage with wine from Burgundy thoughtfully, balancing new releases against secondary market opportunities. 

 

WineCap’s independent market analysis showcases the value of portfolio diversification and the stability offered by investing in wine. Speak to one of our wine investment experts and start building your portfolio. Schedule your free consultation today

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A guide to Burgundy wine regions

Burgundy France wine region

Burgundy is one of the world’s most revered and historically significant wine regions. For centuries, it has captivated collectors and wine lovers with its ability to express terroir more precisely than almost anywhere else on earth. Understanding the regions in Burgundy is essential to understanding why it produces some of the most sought-after fine wines in the world.

Unlike larger wine regions defined by broad styles or dominant producers, Burgundy is a mosaic of tiny appellations, historic villages, and meticulously delineated vineyard parcels. Here, value, quality, and reputation are shaped not by château names, but by vineyard location, soil composition, and microclimate. This is a region where a few metres of land can dramatically change a wine’s character – and its price.

At the heart of Burgundy’s complexity lies its regional structure. While thousands of climats and individual vineyards exist, the region is fundamentally organised into five core Burgundy wine regions, each contributing something distinct to Burgundy’s identity. From the cool, mineral-driven whites of Chablis to the warmer, expressive wines of the Mâconnais, these regions together form one of the most intricate wine landscapes in the world.

Regions in Burgundy: structure

Geographically, Burgundy forms a long, narrow corridor of vineyards running from north to south through eastern France. It is divided into four contiguous regions and one satellite region, each with its own climate, soils, and stylistic identity.

Although Beaujolais is sometimes associated with Burgundy through tradition and grape variety, administratively it belongs to the Rhône and is not considered part of Burgundy’s official wine regions.

Burgundy’s vineyard area totals approximately 30,000 hectares, with more than 80% classified under the AOC system. Despite producing only around a quarter of Bordeaux’s volume, Burgundy’s influence on the fine wine market is disproportionately large. Its emphasis on scarcity, site specificity, and classification has made it a benchmark for quality worldwide.

Chablis (Satellite)

Located just two hours southeast of Paris, Chablis is Burgundy’s northernmost outpost and one of the world’s great sources of white wine. Unlike the rest of Burgundy, Chablis sits geographically apart from the Côte d’Or, forming a satellite region with a distinct climate and geological identity.

Chablis produces wines exclusively from Chardonnay grapes, yet its style is markedly different from the richer whites of the south. This is largely due to its Kimmeridgian limestone soils, formed from an ancient seabed rich in fossilised marine life.

Characteristics of Chablis wines

Chablis wines are renowned for their:

  • purity and tension

  • minimal oak influence

  • pronounced chalky minerality

  • long ageing potential at Premier Cru and Grand Cru levels

Cool continental temperatures preserve acidity, giving Chablis its linear structure and precise expression.

Appellations of Chablis

Chablis is divided into four hierarchical appellations:

  • Petit Chablis

  • Chablis

  • Chablis Premier Cru

  • Chablis Grand Cru

The Grand Cru vineyards – just seven climats clustered along the Serein River – represent one of Burgundy’s smallest and most prestigious fine wine zones. Premier Cru sites such as Vaillons, Montmains, Fourchaume and Vaulorent also play a crucial role in defining Chablis’ quality hierarchy.

Côte de Nuits: the heart of Pinot Noir

The Côte de Nuits forms the northern half of the Côte d’Or and is widely regarded as the spiritual home of the world’s greatest Pinot Noir. This narrow strip of east-facing limestone slopes produces some of the most expensive and sought-after red wines on earth.

Key villages include Gevrey-Chambertin, Morey Saint-Denis, Vosne-Romanée, Chambolle-Musigny, and Nuits-Saint-Georges. The region is also home to the most iconic Burgundy estate of all: Domaine de la Romanée-Conti.

Monastic origins and vineyard classification

Viticulture in the Côte de Nuits dates back to Roman times, but it was Benedictine and Cistercian monks who laid the foundations of Burgundy’s modern vineyard system during the Middle Ages. Through centuries of observation, they identified which vineyard parcels consistently produced superior wines, giving rise to the concept of climats and, eventually, grand cru vineyards.

Côte de Nuits Grand Crus

Some of the world’s most revered grand crus are located here, including:

  • Chambertin

  • Clos Saint-Denis

  • Clos de Vougeot

  • Échézeaux

  • Richebourg

  • Romanée-Conti

  • La Tâche

These wines command extraordinary prices due to their rarity, tiny production levels, and global demand. Even in weaker market cycles, Côte de Nuits grand crus remain among the most liquid assets in fine wine.

The Côte de Nuits forms the northern half of the Côte d’Or and is the spiritual home of the world’s greatest Pinot Noir. This narrow strip of hillside produces some of Burgundy’s most celebrated bottles – home to legendary appellations like Gevrey-Chambertin, Morey Saint-Denis, Vosne-Romanée, and the most iconic estate of all, Domaine de la Romanée-Conti.

Côte de Beaune: elegance, balance and great white wines

The Côte de Beaune forms the southern half of the Côte d’Or and is centred around the historic town of Beaune, the commercial heart of Burgundy. This region is unique in producing both exceptional red and white wines, with a stronger emphasis on Chardonnay than its northern neighbour.

A region of diversity

Before the introduction of the AOC system in 1936, wines from this area were broadly referred to as “Beaune wines.” Today, the Côte de Beaune encompasses a complex patchwork of villages, Premier Cru climats, and celebrated grand cru sites.

Iconic appellations include Puligny-Montrachet, Chassagne-Montrachet, Meursault, and Aloxe-Corton. White wines from grand cru vineyards such as Corton-Charlemagne and Montrachet are widely considered among the finest Chardonnay expressions in the world.

The Côte de Beaune contains more than 40 Premier Cru climats, producing wines prized for their balance, structure, and ageing potential.

Côte Chalonnaise: value and tradition

Situated south of the Côte de Beaune, the Côte Chalonnaise is often overlooked yet it plays a vital role in Burgundy’s ecosystem. The region produces high-quality wines from Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Aligoté, often at more accessible price points than the Côte d’Or.

Notable appellations of the Côte Chalonnaise

Key villages include:

  • Mercurey

  • Givry

  • Rully

  • Montagny

These appellations offer excellent value while maintaining Burgundian character. Historically, the Côte Chalonnaise also played a key role in the development of Crémant de Bourgogne, with early sparkling wine production centred around Rully and Mercurey.

Mâcconais: warmth, fruit and approachability

The Mâconnais is Burgundy’s southernmost wine region, defined by rolling hills, warmer temperatures, and dramatic limestone formations. Monastic orders, particularly the Abbey of Cluny, were instrumental in establishing viticulture here as early as the 10th century.

Wine styles and grape varieties

Around 80% of vineyards are planted to Chardonnay, producing wines that are generally riper and more fruit-forward than those of northern Burgundy. The region also grows Gamay and smaller amounts of Pinot Noir.

Notable regional appellations include:

  • Pouilly-Fuissé

  • Pouilly-Vinzelles

  • Saint-Véran

  • Viré-Clessé

These wines consistently offer strong quality and value, making the Mâconnais an increasingly important region for collectors seeking Burgundy character without Côte d’Or pricing.

Final thoughts on Burgundy wine regions

Burgundy’s complexity is not a barrier – it is its greatest strength. From the steely minerality of Chablis to the haunting depth of Vosne-Romanée and the crystalline precision of Puligny-Montrachet, each region offers its own interpretation of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

Together, these Burgundy wine regions form one of the most intellectually rewarding and historically rich wine landscapes in the world. Defined by centuries of observation, monastic influence, and an unparalleled focus on terroir, Burgundy continues to set the global benchmark for fine wine – captivating collectors, investors, and wine lovers alike.

Looking for more? Read our Burgundy Regional Report, which delves into the fundamentals of this fascinating region and the development of its investment market.