Vincent Girardin : Meursault 1er cru "Les Charmes-Dessus" 2023

Characteristics and Tasting Notes for the Meursault 2023 Vincent Girardin

Tasting

Colour
The wine reveals a beautiful pale to medium-intensity lemon-yellow hue, adorned with golden highlights that reflect optimal maturity.

Nose
Complex and refined, it gradually opens up with aeration to reveal delicate floral notes reminiscent of honeysuckle. These are joined by citrus aromas such as grapefruit and lemon, enriched with touches of stone fruit, vanilla, and a subtle hint of hazelnut typical of its terroir.

Palate
Full and generous from the very first sip, it offers a silky texture underpinned by lovely freshness. The mid-palate reveals a sense of fullness where citrus, floral, and hazelnut flavours come together. The long, elegant finish is enhanced by a mineral depth with flinty accents.

Food and Wine Pairing

This white wine pairs wonderfully with delicate seafood, such as scallops pan-seared in beurre blanc, or freshwater fish in a creamy sauce. It also complements white poultry in cream sauce, morel mushroom dishes, as well as aged cheeses such as Époisses or Comté.

Service and Storage

This 2023 Meursault already shows great aromatic potential but will continue to evolve favourably in the cellar, drinking well until around 2031.

The Mineral Elegance and Richness of a Great White Wine from the Côte de Beaune

The Estate

Founded in 1980 in France by Vincent Girardin with just two hectares, the house has become an essential reference in Burgundy. At the helm of a vineyard of around thirty hectares, complemented by a négociant business, the estate has belonged since 2012 to the Compagnie des Vins d'Autrefois, chaired by Jean-Pierre Nié. Under the technical direction of Éric Germain, the team continues to uphold a minimal-intervention philosophy that allows each terroir to express itself fully. This pursuit of excellence earned the estate the title of Négociant of the Year in 2023.

The Vineyard

Located in the southern part of the Côte de Beaune, the Meursault terroir enjoys optimal east and southeast exposure, on slopes rising between 230 and 360 metres in altitude. The vines flourish on a mosaic of soils composed of Jurassic marl, marly limestone, and clay. The estate follows biodynamic principles, eschewing synthetic products in favour of natural composts. The soils are preserved without deep ploughing, and permanent grass cover encourages local biodiversity.

The Vintage

The year 2023 ranks among the hottest and sunniest recorded in the region. The growing season was marked by two major heatwaves during the summer. These high temperatures and abundant sunshine led to exceptional ripening of the berries, altering the grapes' natural acid balance ahead of a harvest that began on 1 September.

Winemaking and Aging

For this 2023 Meursault, the hand-harvested grapes are destemmed and lightly pressed. After gentle settling, the must begins fermentation with indigenous yeasts in French oak barrels (10 to 35% new wood). The wine is then aged on fine lees for 14 to 20 months. Finally, bottling takes place according to the lunar calendar, without any fining or filtration.

Grape Variety

100% Chardonnay