One of the most anticipated visits of my trip in Burgundy last month was Domaine Pierre Vincent Girardin, a new address in Meursault with gorgeous and smart Chardonnay and seriously good red wines from a mixture of Pierre Vincent’s own vineyards and purchased grapes. Most producers usually excel in making either Chardonnay or Pinot Noir in Burgundy, but I honestly can’t decide one here. A producer to keep an eye out for.
Pierre Vincent started harvest on the 26th of August for the whites and 1st of September for the reds. Yields for reds were between 30-38hl/ha and 50-55hl/ha for whites.
Winemaking Style
One of the things that stands out at Domaine Pierre Vincent Girardin are the customised 456L barrels from Francois Freres with a “special toast”. The large oak barrels are especially attractive for Pierre Vincent to reduce oxygen contact in his wines during elevage. Whites are aged in barrels for 1 year then transferred into stainless steel tanks for 6 months minimum. Reds are aged in oak for 14-16 months. New oak varies between cuvees but around 50% new oak in 2018.
Reds are between 20% to 100% whole cluster. Gentle pump over with very light extraction. 6 days of cold fermentation. Resulting in a lightly extracted yet aromatic reds.
Pierre Vincent’s vineyards have recently increased their trenches height to 1.6m to allow to vine shoots grow longer. Pierre Vincent also spares no expense on his corks, 54mm length and 25mm diameter thick and dense corks, 100% tested for TCA. All wines are bee wax sealed.
SO2:
40-45mg/L for white
10-15mg/L for red
Tasting Notes
Bourgogne Rouge ‘Eclat de Calcaire’ 2018
Grapes are mostly from Pommard with one parcel from Volnay. 3 Barrels produced. 20% whole cluster in the Bourgogne and village wines. Around 10% new oak. Light bodied with forward red fruits and very light extraction. Smoky red berries with gentle perfume. (82/100)
Pommard Vaumuriens 2018
A darker array of mixed berries, perfumed nose of raspberry and delicate stems. Subtle sweet fruits underneath the fine-grained tannins. (82-83/100)
Pommard 1er Cru Epenots 2018
From Petits Epenots. Juicy red berries with earthy tannins. Good weight with a firm backbone despite gentle extraction. (84/100)
Corton Clos de Rois Grand Cru 2018
A rich array of dark berries and smoked earth. Delicate bouquet underneath the concentrated layer of fruits and structure. (85-86/100)
Vosne Romanee 1er Cru Les Suchots 2018
3 barrels produced in 2018 from a parcel in the top southern part of Suchots, near Richebourg. 13.5% alcohol. A gorgeous bouquet of sweet stems and rose petal intertwined with wild berries and lifted mixed fruits. Lightfooted with mild and delicate ethereal note. A very charming Suchots. (88-89/100)
Vosne Romanee 1er Cru Les Suchots 2019
Barrel sample of the infant Suchots 2019. 3.6pH and 14.5% alcohol but incredibly well balanced. A seriously impressive Suchots with densely packed fruits and firm floral note. Should turn out excellently. (90+/100)
Griotte Chambertin Grand Cru 2018
3 barrels produced (1 large and 1 standard size barrel). 25-30hl/ha. The Griotte Chambertin is the most compelling red wine from Pierre Vincent Girardin. Complex nose of blackberries, juicy raspberries and in-depth earthy flavours. Lifted whole cluster scent. Seriously delicious already but I suspect it should improve with a few years of ageing. (91-93/100)
Mazis Chambertin Grand Cru 2018
From Les Mazis-Hauts. Around 13.5-14% alcohol. The Mazis Chambertin offers a darker pitched profile of fruits and more intensity. Deep and slightly reductive with powerful backbone that will require more cellaring. Bold. (91/100)
Chambertin Grand Cru 2018
Silky and fragrant mixed fruits and bubbly stemmy notes. Generous floral core with concentrated refreshing berries. High toast new oak nicely integrated with good acidity and soft tannins. A refined Chambertin. (92/100)
Bourgogne Blanc ‘Eclat de Calcaire’ 2018
80% of the grapes are from Meursault (limestone soil) and 20% from Volnay. Bright array of flashy citrus fruits and creamy minerals. Refreshing with a touch of reduction and exotic tone. A really good Bourgogne Blanc. (83/100)
Meursault Les Narvaux 2018
A bright array of flinty minerality with a concentrated juicy tree fruit core. Glossy new oak with some reduction. Good acidity and tension. A superb lieu-dit in Meursault. Good intensity for a village wine. (85/100)
Meursault 1er Cru Les Charmes 2018
Generous buttery toast with concentrated white orchard fruits. 100% new oak with smart reduction and exotic spices. Great brightness and intensity with pure creamy expression of Meursault. (86-87/100)
Puligny Montrachet Les Folatieres 2018
From a small parcel within the Premier Cru Les Folatieres, this ‘village’ level Puligny Montrachet from young vines offers generous leesy texture and smart reduction that resembles PYCM. Very refined and sophisticated for a village wine. Beautiful pure minerality. (87-88/100)
Corton Charlemagne Grand Cru 2018
4-5 large barrels produced. From the Aloxe side. 2/3 new oak. Pierre Vincent’s modern style of winemaking works really well in this terroir. Vibrant array of exotic fruits and creamy spices. Full-bodied with potent fresh fruits and refreshing acidity. Impressive intensity. (90-91/100)
Batard Montrachet Grand Cru 2018
2018 is the first vintage of the Batard Montrachet. 13.2% alcohol. A gorgeous array of buttery new oak toast that reminds me of d’Auvenay / Dugat-Py white oaking. Special aromatic buttery toast with vibrant tree fruits and white orchard fruits. Expressive and bold with flamboyant spices. Really attractive. (92-93/100)
