Meursault Les Perrieres 2022 Vincent Girardin

The 2022 growing season in Côte de Beaune was one of the warmest, driest and sunniest on record, though conditions were not the same across all regions. Heavy rainfall in June saturated the soil with moisture, whilst timely rainfall in mid-August allowed the vines to ‘rest’ before the harvest. It is important to note that the heat set in without any sudden spikes in temperature, and the nights remained cool, meaning that ripening began early but without the loss of acidity one might have expected from such a summer. The harvest in the Côte de Beaune began around 25 August, several weeks earlier than the historical average, and the crop proved to be both abundant and healthy, it is largely thanks to this that the 2022 vintage avoided the heaviness characteristic of other sunny vintages.

Vincent Girardin’s ‘Meursault Les Perrieres’ 1er cru is a wine from the appellation’s most revered climat, which is universally regarded as a Grand Cru, despite lacking the official designation. This plot, cultivated according to organic farming principles, is situated on thin, stony soil, where the layer of topsoil above the hard limestone bedrock; this is the source of the tension and salty note characteristic of this plot. In 2022, yields here were low, and this is reflected in the wine: the richness typical of Meursault is present, but the vineyard’s mineral character runs right through its heart.

Éric Germain, a winemaker since 2002 and head of the style since Vincent Girardin’s departure in 2012, has not altered his approach in any way: hand-harvesting with double sorting, fermentation with indigenous yeasts, deliberately restrained use of new oak, and prolonged ageing on fine lees.

Best enjoyed between 2028 and 2042, though the finest bottles will retain their qualities for much longer.

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