Vincent Girardin Chassagne-Montrachet Les Chaumées Premier Cru 2020

In our book, you can really never have too much fantastic White Burgundy – especially when you can find it with great savings like this! Deals on Burgundy of any sort have become scarce in the wine world these days, but we pride ourselves on finding those gems that seriously overdeliver! This is just such a wine – a well-regarded house, with access to a pristine, Premier Cru lieu-dit in Chassagne-Montrachet, where old vines and careful development in bottle have combined to produce this stellar offering! Plus, free shipping on 3 or more bottles!

The Vincent Giardin estate was established in 1980, when Vincent began producing wine from five acres in Santenay that he inherited. He was only 19, and over the next 20 years, he built the domaine into a Burgundy powerhouse, making a large amount of wines from an ever-expanding portfolio, and exporting them to every corner of the globe.

In many circles, it was said that the estate became a victim of its own success. As demand increased, the style of the wine became almost formulaic, and many Burgundy purists began to shy away from the wines as being almost generic. All of that began to change in 2002, when the domaine brought on winemaker, Eric Germain, brother to Jean-François Germain of the highly regarded Henri Germain house in Meursault. Less oak, longer elevage, less batonnage, and a greater attention to farming was implemented, along with a plan to slowly transition all of their holdings to biodynamic farming. The effect has been substantial, summed up by Burgundy expert William Kelley:

“Wines that were once oaky and somewhat exaggerated are now deep, precise and beautifully differentiated by site. … This is now a very serious source for high-quality Burgundy, and the reflex to dismiss this producer as ‘commercial’ is entirely misplaced.” – William Kelley, Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate

This Chardonnay, from 40-year-old vines on a steeply sloping hill facing east, hails from the northern edge of the village of Chassagne-Montrachet. The soil is light, with scant clay, and a significant stone presence, and a manual harvest and slow pressing see these grapes into 228-liter French oak barrels for fermentation on native yeasts. Aging occurs on the lees for 14 months, and a month before bottling, the wine is placed in a stainless steel tank for blending. The result is bright, and fresh, with myriad citrus expressions – lemon verbena and lime zest – plus a hearty dose of herbs like mint and sage, with a lightly floral element of orange blossom, all grounded by an essence of freshly baked brioche. It’s focused and expressive throughout, with plenty of balance and precision. Simply delicious, high-quality stuff at an all-around glorious price, with free shipping on 3 or more bottles!

FOOD PAIRINGS: Pan sear some halibut with lemon, dill, and garlic – with an heirloom tomato and asparagus salad on the side – for something just as vibrant and fresh as this delectable White Burgundy!