Article: Bitouzet 2024
Bitouzet 2024
I made the first offer of Bitouzet-Prieur back in early February, just as the 2024 vintage was beginning to take shape, and the wines sold out almost immediately. I knew we had the potential for a great vintage, but I didn't really know how great. I also knew quantity was going to be a huge issue this year. Since then, I've traveled to France and had the chance to taste the wines for myself, and like I've been telling everyone who will listen, this is the kind of vintage you load up on. That is, if classically styled, citrus-leaning, mineral-driven wines with firm acidity and structure are something you like. I know this is exactly how I like my white Burgundy.
I've been singing the praises of Bitouzet-Prieur since touring his state-of-the-art facility back in 2019. They've always had great vineyards, but it wasn't until François Bitouzet built a blank-check winery that he could vinify, age, and bottle the wines on his terms, rather than rushing them into bottle to make space for the incoming harvest.
The results? I think the wines speak for themselves. The trajectory here has been straight up, and the quality has never been better. My offer today is for arguably the two best vineyards in Meursault, though a few of the owners in Genevrières might argue that. Needless to say, these are two dazzling wines with incredible pedigree, offered at prices that seem low given the quality.
50 ha, one in Charmes Dessous and another in Charmes Dessus that are vinified, and raised, separately but then blended). A slightly more elegant and certainly spicier nose combines notes of pear, apple and a plenitude of floral elements. The sleeker and more attractively textured, and markedly denser, middle weight flavors possess even better punch on the lingering, balanced and bitter lemon-inflected finale. This attractively dry and chiseled effort is terrific and a wine that should richly reward up to a decade of keeping. One to track down as it’s excellent. 2032+
- Burghound, 93
Mid lemon yellow. The bouquet offers the expected weight and depth of a Charmes. This is beautifully poised, growing in the mouth, the fruit, oak and acid are all in harmony, with a serene length. Very Charmes in style. Drink from 2029-2035. Tasted Dec 2025.
- Jasper Morris, 91-94
The 2024 Meursault Les Charmes ler Cru has plenty of tension and mineralité on the nose, perhaps leaning more towards Perrières in style thi year. The palate is taut on the entry, quite compact at the moment but there is plenty of energy coiled up here. Liaht traces of white con patisseries develop towards the finish. Give it three years in bottle.
- Neal Martin/Vinous, 91-93
A distinctly cool and airy nose is again moderately restrained with its combination of mineral reduction, acacia blossom, Granny Smith apple and petrol nuances that are also trimmed in just enough wood to notice. The medium weight flavors are not quite as dense as those of the Charmes though they are even more intense and certainly stonier, all wrapped in a succulent yet quite serious and compact finale that displays first-rate length. For the moment the Charmes appears to have the upper hand in 2024 but we will see in time. 92/2032+
- Burghound, 92
A lighter lemon colour. The bouquet is not demonstrative while the palate shows stones, candied citrus, weight, a little oak, a smoky touch, and fair length. Lighter on entry, more powerful behind. Drink from 2029-2035. Tasted Dec 2025.
- Jasper Morris, 91-93
The 2024 Meursoult Les Perrières ler Cru has a tightly wound, crushed stone nose that is austere at the moment. Wet granite scents and o touch of sea spray emerge with time. The polate is very well balanced with a keen line of acidity, lightly spiced; this Perrières goins amplitude towards the final third and feels long and tender on the finish This is very promising.
- Neal Martin/Vinous, 92-94
