2018 Vincent Girardin Chassagne Montrachet Morgeot

2018 Vincent Girardin Chassagne Montrachet Morgeot

2018 Vincent Girardin Chassagne Montrachet Morgeot, Premier Cru, France

91-94 Points – Antonio Galloni’s Vinous:
“Medium yellow. Distinctly more exotic on the nose than the foregoing samples, offering aromas of pineapple, pear and flowers. Then sappy and floral in the mouth, with surprising lemony cut leavening the normally rich character of Morgeot. This silky, concentrated wine finishes with juicy acidity, a slightly tannic quality, terrific grapefruit lift and rising length. A very impressive Morgeot in the making.”

Chardonnay is the world’s most famous white-wine grape and also one of the most widely planted. Although the most highly regarded expressions of the variety are those from Burgundy and California, many high-quality examples are made in Italy, Australia, New Zealand and parts of South America.

Describing the flavors of Chardonnay is not easy. While many Chardonnay wines have high aromatic complexity, this is usually due to winemaking techniques (particularly the use of oak) rather than the variety’s intrinsic qualities. Malolactic fermentation gives distinctive buttery aromas. Fermentation and/or maturation in oak barrels contributes notes of vanilla, smoke and hints of sweet spices such as clove and cinnamon. Extended lees contact while in barrel imparts biscuity, doughy flavors. Because of this high level of winemaker involvement, Chardonnay has become known as the “winemaker’s wine”.

Morgeot is cumulatively the largest Premier Cru vineyard in Chassagne-Montrachet,eastern France.Encompassing a large number of other Premier Cru climats at the southern end of the appellation. The vineyards that make up the title lie on the lower slopes of the Côte d’Or escarpment, above the D113a road as it winds its way towards Santenay.

Vincent Girardin is a famous Burgundy domaine based in Meursault. It makes a wide range of wines from both Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from around the Côte de Beaune, from grand cru sites such as Le Montrachet and Echezeaux, all the way down to vineyards falling under the village-level and regional appellations.