For lovers of red Burgundy, the past decade has offered almost nothing but good news. A nearly unbroken string of excellent vintages—some of them superb-have produced an array of choices from the Côte d'Or, as well as plenty of great options from the region's outlying areas.

The current crop of wines, primarily early releases from the hot, dry 2019 vintage, indicate another spate of brilliant Pinot Noirs that should provide allure and pleasure for decades to come while offering instant gratification in some cases as well. That's because the vintage features ripe fruit flavors that are beautifully defined, plus silky textures and plenty of flesh to cover the wines' underlying structures at this stage.

In terms of quality, the 2019s equal the refined and elegant 2016s, though they are closer in character to the powerful 2015s or 2005s, the latter another hot, dry year. These comparisons will become clearer as many more 2019s are released this spring.

Black cherry, blackberry, black currant, and occasionally plum fruit are the main themes, with some versions revealing red fruit notes, augmented by accents of violet, sandalwood, licorice, iron, mineral, and spice. Overall, the wines are intense and vibrant, alternating between power and grace depending on the appellation.