The 1971 vintage in Burgundy stands out as a great year, one of the most accomplished of the decade, born of a troubled flowering and storms that reduced yields, concentrating ripe and rich grapes. The reds (Pinot Noir) are its defining expressions: powerful, dense and deep, endowed with generous flesh and a superb ageing potential, with brilliant successes in the Côte de Nuits (Gevrey-Chambertin, Vosne-Romanée, Chambolle-Musigny, Morey-Saint-Denis). The whites (Chardonnay) are equally brilliant, rich and ample, from Meursault to Puligny-Montrachet and Chablis. The ageing potential was considerable. Today, the great reds offer splendid maturity, with the finest still holding reserves. Between the abundant 1970 and the singular 1972, the 1971 ranks among the very greatest years of the decade, alongside 1969 and 1978.