The Producer
The history of the Vincent Girardin House begins in 1980, when Vincent Girardin, then 19 years old, decides to create his own wines from two hectares of vines inherited from his parents, who have been winemakers in Santenay since the 17th century. Driven by a desire for independence and a true passion for the vine, he gradually develops his business, expanding his production to the most renowned appellations of the Côte de Beaune before venturing into wine trading. An important milestone is reached in 2002 with the arrival of Éric Germain, who takes charge of the vinifications and helps define a style more focused on purity and the expression of the terroirs. In 2012, Vincent Girardin sold his company to the Compagnie des Vins d’Autrefois, which continues the adventure by relying on the historic team and its expertise.
Located in Meursault, the estate is dedicated to revealing the diversity of Burgundy's terroirs, primarily on the Côte de Beaune. The clay-limestone soils, often rich in stones and limestone, are an essential element of the identity of the wines, particularly the great whites made from Chardonnay and the reds produced from Pinot Noir. In the vineyard, the work emphasizes environmentally friendly practices, with manual harvesting, particular attention to yields, and methods inspired by biodynamics. In the cellar, interventions are limited to preserve the integrity of the grapes and the characteristics of each plot. Fermentations rely on indigenous yeasts, while aging on fine lees in French oak barrels is tailored to each appellation, with a measured use of new wood to maintain freshness, finesse, and balance.
Today, the Maison Vincent Girardin offers an extensive range of wines covering numerous Burgundy appellations, from regional cuvées to the most sought-after Premiers Crus and Grands Crus. Meursault, Puligny-Montrachet, Chassagne-Montrachet, Saint-Aubin, Volnay, and Pommard illustrate the richness of its repertoire and its desire to highlight the particularities of each climate. Under the technical direction of Éric Germain, the estate pursues an approach based on the precision of vinifications and respect for the terroir, with particular attention to the freshness and complexity of white wines as well as the elegance of reds. Between family heritage, technical demands, and the search for authenticity, Vincent Girardin thus perpetuates a demanding vision of great Burgundy wines.
The Wine
Wine from the climate "les Clous" located to the west of the village of Meursault.
Many marls identical to the Grand Cru Corton-Charlemagne (only the topography and altitude change).
The pruning is done in Guyot (Poussard) with various green works (de-budding, trellising, topping). The average age of the vines is 45 years.
Manual harvesting, sorting on the vine. In the winery, after a light crushing, the grapes are pressed using our pneumatic presses. Following a light settling, the grape must is placed in French oak barrels of 228 liters (15% new barrels) where alcoholic and malolactic fermentations will take place with indigenous yeasts and bacteria. The aging is done on fine lees for 15 months. Without bâtonnage. One month before bottling, the wine from the different barrels is racked into tank. The bottling, following the rhythms of the lunar and biodynamic calendar, is preceded by a light fining and a light filtration.
Tasting
A brilliant golden color. A fine nose marked by citrus notes. A palate with a mineral character, very good acidity that indicates great aging potential.
On the table, serve it with various grilled, poached, or sauced fish, foie gras, or cheeses (Burgundian of course).