The 2021 Bourgogne Blanc "Cuvee Saint-Vincent" by Vincent Girardin is generally described as a classic and well-made regional Chardonnay, offering good value for a white Burgundy. The wine is made from 50-year-old vines grown on clay and limestone soils between Chassagne and Meursault. It undergoes fermentation and gentle aging for 11 months, with 10% in new 500-liter oak barrels. The vintage itself was challenging due to frost and mildew, but dedicated producers managed to create wines with notable quality, showcasing a return to a more classic style with freshness and balance.
Here's a summary of tasting notes and characteristics for the 2021 Bourgogne Blanc "Cuvee Saint-Vincent":
Characteristic
Description
Source
Nose Pungent nose of juicy fruit, buttery for the appellation, citrus peel, ripe mirabelle plums, pineapple details, nuances of cream and dried fruit.
Palate Nice, easy, very soft, candied, fresh apricot, creamy, thick, silky, rich, refreshing, good smoothness, strong sapidity. Lightly oaked with plenty of citrus and some vanilla. Finishes clean with balanced acidity.
Vintage Notes The 2021 vintage is characterized by freshness, elegance, and balance, with a pronounced minerality and acidity. It is considered a return to a more classical style compared to warmer vintages. Wines from this vintage are lively, textural, and crisp.
The history of Maison Vincent Girardin is relatively recent. In 1980, at the age of 19, Vincent Girardin, the son of a family of winegrowers based in Santenay since the 17th century, decided to strike out on his own and began producing wine from five acres of vines that he had inherited from his parents. From his earliest youth, Vincent had a passion for working with vines and great respect for the potential that they represent, and his ambition was to produce his own wine. The quality of his wines was quickly recognized by connoisseurs all over the world, and this enabled him to expand his activity, focusing primarily on the great white and red wines of the Côte de Beaune. To cope with the growing demand for his wines, he developed an approach that was new in Burgundy: he purchased grapes from producers who shared the same philosophy and the same high standards. In 2012, Vincent Girardin sold his operation to a long-standing partner of the Maison. Jean-Pierre Nié, President of the Compagnie des Vins d’Autrefois in Beaune, naturally decided to continue with the small team of nine people that had been faithful to the Maison for many years. Today, Eric Germain continues to uphold the style of the wines, and Marco Caschera markets them all over the world.
