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B-21 Top Recommendation
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"I have said this before but it bears repeating that Germain has been on a roll over the last 5 years and 2023 is again a fine example of that success." - Allen Meadows, Burghound
Vincent Girardin's staggering portfolio of domaine and négociant bottlings can be a daunting task to wrap your head around, but once you dive in, the whites always seem to be the ticket at this Meursault-based stalwart. Our Burgundy team's visit to the domaine last fall proved that notion in 2023 as well, a vintage which favored Chardonnay anyway.
We've already introduced you to one of this past year's shining stars in Burgundy value in the 2023 Cuvée St-Vincent Bourgogne Blanc, which B-21 buyer Andrew Kitz says "overdelivers in a big way," and now we've just received a handful of other excellent expressions that should grab the attention of any savvy white Burgundy fan. The 2023 Meursault Narvaux is a top-tier village cru that "nudges Premier Cru in quality" according to Neal Martin, also earning Outstanding and Top Value marks from Burghound. No less impressive, the "pedigreed, precise, and textbook" Puligny-Montrachet Vieilles Vignes shows that winemaker Eric Germain knows his way around outside his Meursault home turf. Turning to the 1er crus, the "elegant yet magisterial" 2023 Chassange 1er Cru La Romanée is "one to watch" according to Martin, and the JM91-94 Puligny 1er Cru Les Folatières is a superb representation of this treasured terroir that stands with the finest of the vintage.
There's no shortage of hyped-up, next big things in Burgundy, but when it comes to reliable performance year in and year out, you can't go wrong with a standard-bearer like Girardin in an excellent vintage like 2023. |
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2 barrels, supplied in must. Pale lemon. Again, strikingly elegant with just a light touch of coconut. Elegant but magisterial, with little herbal subtleties to find on the nose, and a lovely and ever-changing fruit profile which keeps extending. Effortless density but Eric thinks a bit late picked. A thick concentration of yellow fruits behind. Works well for those who like the more sumptuous approach. Drink from 2029-2036. Tasted Oct 2024.
92-94 points, Jasper Morris, Inside Burgundy (Jan 2025)
The 2023 Chassagne-Montrachet La Romanée 1er Cru is initially quite reticent and takes time to unfold on the nose, eventually offering lemon thyme, crushed stone and Puligny-like malic scents. The palate is well balanced with a slightly honeyed texture on the entry, notes of nectarine, praline and stem ginger toward the persistent finish. This is one to watch.
91-93 points, Neal Martin, Vinous (Jan 2025)
A super-fresh nose features vaguely exotic notes of spiced tea, apple compote, white peach and a whiff of citrus confit. The sleek, even glossy, medium weight plus flavors aren't especially dense though they do exude evident minerality on the very dry and youthfully austere finish that exhibits a touch of bitter citrus character. While built to repay up to a decade of keeping, this should be approachable relatively young. *Outstanding*
90-93 points, Allen Meadows, Burghound (Jun 2025)
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