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Jean Jacques Girard Meursault Charmes 1er Cru 2022

Appellation
Meursault 1er Cru
Region
Côte de Beaune
Vintage
2022
In Stock
Add To Cart
$190.00
 
SKU: EJJG11W-22
Overview

Meursault 'Charmes' shows first and foremost, the elegance and complexity of the Meursault terroir. A brilliant golden hue, hints at depth and richness. The nose is a symphony of aromas, where notes of baked apples and ripe pears mingle with toasted almond and hazelnut. On the palate, Meursault 'Charmes' shows remarkable balance between opulence and precision. The full-bodied nature of the wine is complemented by a vibrant acidity that imparts freshness, preventing the richness from becoming overwhelming. The mouthfeel is creamy and luxurious, and a subtle mineral undertone that says Burgundy. A judicious use of oak gives the wine texture, structure and complexity. The finish is long, a lingering impression of both the fruit and the well-integrated oak.

Winemaker
Vintage
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BURGUNDY 2022 VINTAGE

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After three successive high-quality but low-quantity vintages, winemakers in Burgundy are refilling their cellars with an excellent 2022 harvest.This is not to say that it was an easy ride. Once again, frost, heat and drought put stress on the growing season, but timing is everything, and the extreme weather did much less damage than in previous years.

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Winters have been wet and mild for years now. The winter of 2021-22 was not, with less than average rainfall and seasonal temperatures. Under these ‘normal’ conditions, we would expect budburst in the first half of April. But summer-like conditions at the end of March forced the vines, especially Chardonnay, to bud early, and we went into frost season with tender green buds exposed. There were two nights in the coming week below zero, but damage was limited.

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Spring conditions set in in mid-April, but Summer followed soon thereafter, dry with spiky heat waves. The vines went wild.  Winemakers fought to keep the growth under control. And the fight continued until flowering, which happened a couple of weeks early in mid-May.

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The warm, dry conditions led to nearly-perfect flowering. We saw for the first time the potential of a great crop, with lots of beautiful, full, well-formed grape bunches; and an early harvest, with fruit setting well ahead of schedule.

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But the drought held, and the fear was that this beautiful fruit would shrivel on the vine. Finally, at the end of June, the rain came. Summer storms bring with them the risk of hail, so all eyes were on the sky as the storms were sometimes violent causing significant but limited hail damage. The rains were intermittent, but regular for the next weeks. The cumulative rainfall would not be enough to see the crop through to harvest, however.

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The heat waves continued through the rains, and so the risk of fungal disease, usually associated with wet conditions, dried up. But temperatures spiked and dry conditions set in again. The grapes ripened in a full-blown heat wave. Winemakers had to keep a close eye on sugar levels, as the risk was that ripeness could gallop away at the last minute.

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And then, just about the time when it looked like an over-ripe mid-August harvest was imminent, it rained again. And the producers were able to let that water absorb into the fruit, increasing the volume of juice that was ultimately harvested in the first week of September.

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2022, both white and red, are showing real depth and ripeness. And while there was once again very little malic acid, the tartaric acid holds the balance and structure together. Early tastings in the barrel show enormous charm and vitality. Very promising.

Appellation

MEURSAULT

COTE DE BEAUNE

The hard comblanchian limestone that disappears deep underground around Nuits-Saint-Georges reappears here in the southern part of the Cote de Beaune where red wines give way to whites. Nowhere in the Côte de Beaune does the Chardonnay grape do better than it does in the 'golden triangle' of Meursault, Chassagne-Montrachet and Puligny-Montrachet. A small amount of red wine is produced here, though white definitely dominates.

Produced only in the commune of Meursault, appellation Meursault includes 19 premiers crus.

Wines

There are appreciable differences in and among the wines of the different Meursault climats. And even more important differences in the perceived style of Meursault among the producers. This translates into two distinct types of Meursault, and then, because the climats themselves are so distinctive, we see almost a spectrum of variety in wines that are all appellation Meursault.

The first of the two distinct styles, what many would call 'traditional', is greeny-gold in color, almost yellow, and going to bronze as it ages. Limpid and fat, its bouquet in youth is grapey toasted oak. This gives way to less fruity but honeyed notes and big buttery volume. Classic Meursault is toast, butter and honey.

The other style, what might be called 'modern' plays more on minerality and acidity. The robe is greeny-gold, but with silvery hints and, while brilliant is notably leaner. The young wine is nutty, floral, gun-flint smoky and above all lemony. Honey notes develop with age, but are carried by the fruit and minerality. Because less new oak is used in the winemaking process, structure is less obvious, but no less an important part of the finished wine. Meursault is perhaps the greatest white Burgundy for aging, and this can be said of either style.

Terroirs

The best soils are found at heights of 260-270 meters with exposures along an arc between east and south. They consist of jurassic marls and marly limestone. There are some patches of magnesian limestone. Ancient callovien limestone and argovien marls appear in the premier cru climats.

Color

Nearly all whites - Chardonnay

Red wines - Pinot Noir

Production surface area

1 hectare (ha) = 2.4 acres

Whites : 383.03 ha (including 103.43 ha premier cru)

Reds : 11.02 ha (including 1.77 ha premier cru)

Food

Power and balance between alcohol and acidity make Meursault potentially noble. A great one has a natural affinity with noble fish or meat where it can match without overpowering. It goes well with roast veal and poultry, and creamy sauces work well here. Still better are grilled lobster, shrimp and famously, crawfish in sauce. Foie gras is often served with the traditional style Meursault, as are rich cheeses like Roquefort. The modern style Meursault is more apt to less rich and extravagant flavors.

Appellations

On the label, the appellations 'Meursault' and 'Meursault 1er Cru' may be followed by the name of a specific vineyard, known as a climat.

The following climats are classified as premier cru:

Blagny

Charmes

Clos des Perrières

Genevrières

La Jeunellotte

La Pièce sous le Bois

Le Porusot

Les Bouchères

Les Caillerets

Les Cras

Les Gouttes d'Or

Les Plures

Les Ravelles

Les Santenots Blancs

Les Santenots du Milieu

Perrières

Porusot

Sous Blagny

Sous le Dos d'Ane

The following climats are village wines from a single vineyard, known as a lieu-dit:

Au Moulin Judas

Au Moulin Landin

Au Murger de Monthélie

Au Village

Clos de la Barre

Clos des Mouches

En Gargouillot

En l'Ormeau

En la Barre

En Marcausse

La Barre Dessus

Le Bois de Blagny

Le Buisson Certaut

Le Cromin

Le Limozin

Le Meix sous le Château

Le Meix Tavaux

Le Pré de Manche

Le Tesson

Les Casse-Têtes

Les Chaumes

Les Chaumes de Narvaux

Les Chevalières

Les Clous Dessous

Les Clous Dessus

Les Corbins

Les Criots

Les Dressoles

Les Durots

Les Forges

Les Gorges de Narvaux

Les Grands Charrons

Les Gruyaches

Les Luchets

Les Magny

Les Malpoiriers

Les Meix Chavaux

Les Millerands

Les Narvaux Dessoux

Les Narvaux Dessus

Les Pellans

Les Pelles-Dessous

Les Pelles-Dessus

Les Perchots

Les Petits Charrons

Les Peutes Vignes

Les Rougeots

Les Santenots Dessous

Les Terres Blanches

Les Tillets

Les Vignes Blanches

Les Vireuils Dessous

Les Vireuils Dessus

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$190.00
 
SKU: EJJG11W-22
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