“Burgundy Vintages – A History from 1845” af Allen Meadows og Douglas E. Barzelay

Om bogen på engelsk:

World-acknowledged Burgundy expert Allen Meadows, together with longtime Burgundy collector and aficionado Doug Barzelay, have published an essential reference book for Burgundy enthusiasts: Burgundy Vintages – A History from 1845. Each vintage from 1845 is not only rated and discussed in depth, but also carefully examined in the context of its era, creating a revealing narrative of the forces that created modern Burgundy and that are likely to shape its future. The book is full of new insights on the cultural, economic and technological developments that have made Burgundies among the most sought-after wines in the world. Burgundy Vintages is at once a wonderfully accessible Burgundian masterclass and a must-have reference for every wine lover, from novice to expert.

In Burgundy Vintages, Allen and Doug provide the reader with in-depth assessments of each vintage: what the growing season was like, how the wines have evolved, and what the future is likely to hold. Tasting notes provide further insight into the wines produced and what to buy, sell and drink — all especially critical as the price of Burgundy continues to escalate.

The book also describes how modern Burgundy was formed. It is the narrative of a journey that begins in 1845 with the oldest wine the authors have tasted and that articulates how, over the course of the ensuing 170 years, Burgundy’s culture, philosophy and techniques of winegrowing and winemaking all changed significantly. Even the vision of vinous beauty has inexorably transformed. Burgundy Vintages seeks to enrich the reader’s understanding of modern Burgundy by reconciling its present with its past even as it evolves in ways undreamed of a century ago.

As Aubert de Villaine, the co-owner and co-director of the Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, has said, “One cannot truly appreciate Burgundy’s wines without understanding its history.” That history, however, is as complex as Burgundy’s maze of vineyards and ownership. It is the story of the struggle to produce some of the world’s most exceptional wines in a marginal climate and of the deeper struggle for the soul of Burgundy: whether its destiny would be controlled by its soils — the vineyards that in 2015 were declared a UNESCO world heritage site — or by the imperatives of commerce.

Burgundy Vintages – A History from 1845 provides a comprehensive and fascinating account of Burgundy through each vintage. The authors describe what a Burgundy lover should expect from wines, both older and younger and provide useful information for collectors at all levels of experience.