Pre Arrival Henri Germain Bourgogne Cote d'Or Blanc 2024

89-91 VM

Notes:

The 2024 Bourgogne Côte d'Or Blanc comes from vines in Meursault and Chassagne, a blend of four and one parcels respectively. Raised for one year in used barrel, racked and then raised mostly in stainless steel vat, the nose is very attractive with pure orchard fruit that blossoms in the glass. The palate is fresh, zesty, beautifully balanced with a bright and minerally finish. Easily Village Cru level. Neal Martin 89-91

Producer: Domaine Henri Germain is one of Meursault's most respected family estates, founded by Henri Germain in 1973 and now managed by his son Jean-François Germain and granddaughter Lucie Germain. The domaine farms approximately 8 hectares across Meursault, Chassagne-Montrachet, and Beaune, with notable Premier Cru holdings in Meursault Perrières, Charmes, and Poruzots, as well as Chassagne-Montrachet Morgeot Les Fairendes. The family's approach emphasizes careful vineyard management, naturally conducted fermentations, minimal intervention, and patient élevage, producing wines recognized for their purity, precision, and ability to express individual vineyard characteristics. The 2024 vintage marks the domaine's first certified organic harvest, an important milestone achieved during an exceptionally difficult growing season.

Vineyard: The 2024 Bourgogne Côte d'Or Blanc is produced entirely from Chardonnay grown in Meursault and Chassagne-Montrachet, combining fruit from four parcels in Meursault and one in Chassagne-Montrachet. The vineyard area totals approximately 1 hectare, with vines averaging 35 years of age. The parcels are situated at elevations of approximately 220–240 meters, with east to southeast exposures and predominantly clay-limestone soils. These sites contribute the combination of fruit concentration, freshness, and mineral character associated with the Côte de Beaune's finest Chardonnay vineyards. The 2024 growing season was unusually cool and wet, with significant disease pressure and exceptionally low yields. Production was approximately 13 hectoliters per hectare, reflecting the challenges of the vintage and the rigorous vineyard selection required to bring healthy fruit into the cellar.

Winemaking: Grapes are harvested by hand and pressed without crushing, following the domaine's traditional approach to white Burgundy. Fermentation proceeds naturally without the addition of commercial yeasts or enzymes, with the cool cellar temperatures encouraging a slow, measured fermentation. The domaine generally avoids bâtonnage, allowing the wines to develop texture through extended contact with their fine lees rather than frequent stirring. For the 2024 vintage, the Bourgogne Côte d'Or Blanc was aged for approximately 12 months in previously used French oak barrels, then racked and transferred predominantly to stainless steel tanks for further maturation. This restrained use of oak preserves the wine's orchard-fruit character and natural acidity while allowing the palate to develop additional depth and texture. The finished wine displays the energy and mineral definition that have become hallmarks of Henri Germain's white Burgundies.

Technical Details: Classified Bourgogne Côte d'Or AOC, the wine is produced from 100% Chardonnay. The 2024 harvest took place September 13–19, with the domaine completing its first certified organic vintage. The wine is produced in limited quantities, with yields substantially reduced by the challenging growing season.

Food Pairing: Seared sea scallops, grilled Dover sole, roasted turbot, steamed mussels, butter-poached lobster, roast chicken with lemon and herbs, veal with a light cream sauce, mushroom risotto, and aged Comté are all excellent pairings. The wine's balance of acidity, texture, and mineral character makes it particularly well suited to seafood, poultry, and dishes featuring butter or delicate cream sauces.

Vins Rare