Description
This is an excellent example of a top white Burgundy from the Chassagne Montrachet appellation, in the Cote de Beaune region, from one of the area’s most successful producers, Girardin. Specifically, it’s from the limestone soils of the Premier Cru Morgeot vineyard, which provides very appetising, intense, mineral and citrus fruit flavours. This wine also has the typical freshness of good Burgundy from a classic vintage such as 2024. But it’s still youthful, so decant it for an hour or so before serving, and it will impress any guest!
TASTING NOTE: A pronounced nose with ripe pear, citrus zest layered with toasted hazelnut, walnut and brioche. On the palate, attractive citrus and mineral notes with gentle spice characters are well defined. Medium to full body with refreshing acidity and a long, fine-textured finish. It’s an extremely elegant wine with a classic feel, partly due to the favourable location in Burgundy, partly due to the skill of the winemaker and also with the 2024 vintage, a slightly cooler year than some of the heady vintages such as 2022 and 2023.
PAIRING & SERVING IDEAS: This wine goes very well with flavourful poultry or fish dishes, for instance chicken or white fish in a creamy sauce, such as pan-seared halibut served with brown butter, or a classic sole Veronique. Other dishes include roasted chicken or guinea fowl with morels. For a vegetarian option, try mushroooms in cream-based sauces. And another great pairing is with cheese, more specifically aged Comté, or a soft cheese from the same region called Langres. Decant for an hour or so, and serve the wine a little warmer than some simpler whites, at 10-12 degrees, and you’ll enjoy the complex, savoury notes alongside the beautiful citrus character. Drink now or keep up till 2030.
ABOUT: Girardin was founded in 1980 when Vincent Girardin was just shy of 19 years old. Coming from a Santenay winemaking family dating back to the 17th century, he grew up surrounded by vineyards, and knew a thing or two about wine! The estate grew rapidly, building long-standing partnerships with growers who shared the same philosophy across 11 Cote de Beaune villages, from Meursault to Puligny-Montrachet, Chassagne-Montrachet, Volnay, Santenay and more. Since 2012, winemaker Erin Germain has focussed on wines of aromatic purity, elegant balance and terroir, using sustainable farming practices and biodynamics, such as cultivating with no chemical herbicides or insecticides, and the use of natural composts and herbal teas for nutrients, whilst following the lunar calendar. The results are impressive, with the wines offering classic Burgundy weight and structure with elegance and pure, fine fruit flavours.
‘Morgeot’ is a Premier Cru vineyard in Chassagne-Montrachet, with ideal vineyard orientation on the hillside for excellent ripening conditions. Soils are distinctively stony with a pinky/brown colour (we have been told that the same stone features in the Trocadero in Paris, although have yet to check this in person!), and it’s the largest Premier Cru in Chassagne, with several additional names such as Abbaye de Morgeot that also qualify for Premier Cru status.
