Vincent Girardin Meursault Vieilles Vignes 2022

Vincent Girardin Meursault Vieilles Vignes 2022 is a refined white Burgundy that captures the depth and texture that Chardonnay can achieve in one of the region’s most revered villages. Sourced from old vines, it delivers impressive concentration while remaining precise and mineral-driven. This cuvée shines as a benchmark Meursault—elegant, layered, and built for both immediate pleasure and graceful development in bottle.

Tasting Notes
In the glass, this Meursault shows a bright, pale gold color with green reflections that hint at its freshness and youth. The nose opens with classic Meursault generosity: ripe orchard fruits like pear and golden apple, supported by lemon zest, crushed hazelnuts, and a fine thread of vanilla and toasted brioche from quality oak. Subtle notes of white flowers, wet stone, and buttered almond add complexity as it aerates. On the palate, the wine is both rich and taut, with old-vine intensity giving a dense, mouth-coating mid-palate. Flavors of ripe pear, citrus cream, and baked apple are lifted by a saline, chalky minerality and a vibrant line of acidity that keeps everything in balance. The oak is well-judged, framing rather than dominating the fruit, and the finish is long, nutty, and slightly smoky, with a lingering touch of citrus peel. While already approachable in its youth, the structure and concentration suggest an aging potential of 8–12 years from the vintage, during which it will gain further complexity and develop more pronounced hazelnut and honeyed notes.

Production
The Meursault Vieilles Vignes 2022 is typically sourced from old Chardonnay vines planted in some of the village’s classic, clay-limestone terroirs, where poor, well-drained soils and gentle slopes encourage deep rooting and naturally low yields. Grapes are generally harvested by hand to preserve berry integrity and allow strict sorting in the vineyard and at the winery. Fermentation traditionally takes place in French oak barrels, with a proportion of new oak adding subtle toast and spice, followed by aging on fine lees to enhance texture and complexity. Careful bâtonnage (lees stirring) and a measured use of oak ensure that the wine retains its tension and mineral backbone while achieving the signature Meursault creaminess.

Food & Serving
This Meursault pairs beautifully with rich seafood such as lobster, scallops, turbot, and buttery sole, as well as roast chicken, veal in cream sauce, and dishes featuring morels or other wild mushrooms. It also works wonderfully with aged Comté, Gruyère, or mild, creamy cow’s milk cheeses. Serve at 10–12°C (50–54°F) to allow the aromas and texture to unfold gradually. For young bottles, a brief decant of 20–30 minutes can help open up the nose and soften the oak, while more mature bottles are best served without extended aeration to preserve their delicate tertiary nuances.

Producer
Maison Vincent Girardin is a highly respected name in the Côte de Beaune, known for its precise, terroir-expressive whites from some of Burgundy’s most prestigious villages. Founded by Vincent Girardin, who started with just a few hectares in the 1980s, the domaine and négoce operation quickly gained a reputation for meticulous vineyard work and a thoughtful, modern approach to winemaking. Today, the house is especially renowned for its Chassagne-Montrachet and Meursault bottlings, which are praised for their clarity, balance, and ability to translate subtle differences in terroir. Over the years, Vincent Girardin wines have become a benchmark for contemporary white Burgundy, consistently earning strong reviews and a loyal following among Burgundy enthusiasts worldwide.