Meursault “Les Grands Charrons” 2019 – Pierre Girardin

The Meursault “Les Grands Charrons” Pierre Girardin vinifies on a ‘micro-cuvée’ scale then low-intervention winemaking takes place, using indigenous yeasts to help capture the purity of each site. The grapes were gently pressed and then fermented and aged in custom-made 456 litre barrels from François et Frères, of which 50% were new.

Pierre has sought out interesting and often overlooked parcels over the past few years, particularly in the Côte de Beaune. He searches for growers who share the same viticultural philosophy and either already farm organically or are moving towards certification. Meursault ‘Les Grands Charrons’ comes from a plot located just above the village of Meursault, bordering Permier Cru ‘Goutte d’Or’. The vineyard is at 250 metres on elevation on the top of the slope and the vines are 35 years old, giving excellent concentration and complexity to the wine.

Pierre Girardin, son of Vincent Girardin, is the 13th generation of his family to make wine in Burgundy. Pierre spent a significant part of his childhood in his family’s vineyards and cellar, both helping and learning from his father. Vincent sold the family domaine and négociant business in 2011 but kept 4.5 hectares of his best sites, primarily in Meursault, Pommard and Volnay, to pass onto his son. The family’s widespread contacts throughout the Côte d’Or have enabled Pierre to supplement his domaine sites with long-term contracts with top growers. Pierre completed his first vintage aged 21 years old.