If there is one region in the world that epitomises the concept of terroir it is Burgundy. You only have to travel 10 miles along the N74 between Nuits St Georges and Puligny to witness the disparity of exposure, soil and topography between the vineyards. If one is to think of how people in every country and many regions have accents that characterise them, then the same is true for wines; a Burgundy wine (love it or hate it) has its own 'accent' that simply cannot be mistaken for any other. 2005 was a wonderful vintage for most regions in France, and Burgundy was no exception. The 'En Primeur' craze in Bordeaux in 2005 can be likened to a tidal wave, and the effects of it were felt in Burgundy. The demand for Burgundy wines increased dramatically, and it was hard for some producers to resist the temptation to increase prices. Many Burgundy wines are therefore very expensive, but although 2006 is not as fashionable as the famous '05' that took the world by storm, the first signs are very promising. It is also generally agreed that the 2004 vintage is starting to show some fantastic results, despite the fact that initially some wine critics perhaps underrated it.
