Albert Grivault, Meursault Premier Cru, Clos des Perrieres, Burgundy

An introduction to Albert Grivault, Meursault Premier Cru, Clos des Perrieres, Burgundy

Clos des Perrières is a tiny Premier Cru climat within the Perrières climat of Meursault. A monopole owned by Albert Grivault, the walled site is located across from Charmes, on relatively low lying slopes with clay-loam-sand soils which are similar in structure to those of Montrachet. The higher proportion of clay in the soil (compared to Perrières) imbuing the wines with a greater mineral intensity alongside bright citrus and white flower characteristics. The domaine replanted half the vineyard in 1986, the rest in 1989. Clos des Perrières is widely considered the top vineyard in the commune and one of the best across the entire Côte de Beaune, with Grivault campaigning for an upgrade to Grand Cru status. This white Burgundy will peak around ten years after its vintage date but can reward extended cellaring of more than 20 years (vintage dependant).

Performance

Understanding Albert Grivault, Meursault Premier Cru, Clos des Perrieres, Burgundy

Made from the region’s signature white grape Chardonnay, this wine is produced from hand-picked fruit, oak is used judiciously during élevage (only 20% new oak) with modest use of bâtonnage, the emphasis being the expression of terroir, and the retention of fragrant aromatics, fume notes, marked minerality and racy acidity, which is so synonymous with this wine. In a Vin De France review, Michel Bettane described its 1988 as ‘the most concentrated wine tasted in this vintage, which is still rather intense, but with an aromatic quality that makes it really close to a Montrachet’.

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