A challenging year for Chablis producers, with the elements doing their level best to thwart the efforts of even the most dedicated vignerons. There were extensive frosts over the Easter weekend and then the region was hit by a savage hailstorm on the night of 14th May. The Grand Cru vineyards were the worst hit, resulting in the loss of much of the crop.

July was cold and overcast, while August saw scorching temperatures, which had the effect of arresting the development of the grapes. Harvesting began on 25th September. The wines are generally of good quality, with the best examples possessing the ripeness levels of the 1995s allied with the acidity levels of the 1997s.