THE JEFFERSON & DISCOVER CLUBS - April 2021
Each year I love to highlight some of my favorites on my birthday, and this year is no exception. When people ask me, “What is your favorite wine?” I respond with the typical answer of, “Well, it depends on the context.” However, if there was one region that might make the top of that list, it would be Burgundy, and even more specifically, the wines of Volnay and Pommard. This month, we are featuring a rising star in the historic Burgundy Cote de Beaune, Pierre Girardin
THE JEFFERSON CLUB
Domaine Pierre Girardin
Pommard ’Les Vignots’ 1er
2018
Wine Maker: Pierre-Vincent (13th generation Girardin)
Region: Pommard, Cote de Beaune, Bourgogne, FRA
Grape Varietal: 100% Pinot Noir
Viticulture: Organic, Calcareous, argillaceous with magnesium content,
Method: 30% whole cluster, 33% new French Oak barrique
Serving Suggestions: serve at 64-68F in Burgundy glasses (large bowl)
Age: decant or hold 2023-2033
Nose: fragrant rose petals and violets, red currant
Palate: bright and elegant with red cherry and clove
Finish: refined tannin structure with elegant length
THE DISCOVER CLUB
Domaine Pierre Girardin
Bourgogne ’Vieilles Vignes’
2018
Wine Maker: Pierre-Vincent (13th generation Girardin)
Region: Meursault / Volnay, Cote de Beaune, Bourgogne, FRA
Grape Varietal: 100% Chardonnay
Viticulture: Organic; 4 Lieu dits: Les Magny, Herbeux, Sous la Velle, Mont Poulains
Method: slow, gentle press; custom 456L barrels
Serving Suggestions: let the wine breathe either in a decanter or the bottle, serve at 45-48F in Burgundy glasses
Age: drink 2023-2028
Nose: lemon curd, quince, matchstick
Palate: crunchy and vibrant acidity with great limestone minerality
Finish: bright citrus with a whiff of smoke
About Pierre Girardin
As the 13th generation to tend vines in Burgundy, it would be easy to rest on the laurels of his predecessors; however, Pierre Girardin aims to push new grounds with his own label, Domaine Pierre Girardin. Pierre focuses on a microfermentations of lesser known parcels (Lieu dits) in Burgundy’s Pommard, Volnay, and Meursault with little to no intervention in the cellar. He tends his own inherited vineyards organically and oversees any long-term grape leases in a similar manner. In the cellar, he opts for larger custom oak barrels for his Chardonnays to introduce less new oak and refrains from filtration or fining for his reds. This young vigneron vinified his first vintage in 2017 at the age of 21, yet at release, his label is gaining a similar reputation to the most lauded winemakers currently in Burgundy.
Why I am excited about this wine
My first introduction to Burgundy was a village-level Volnay by Vincent Girardin, Pierre’s father. I quickly fell in love with the often overlooked villages of Volnay, Pommard, and Meursault. To taste the winemaking legacy of such a house can be a reflective experience, sensing such pedigree but seeing the new direction this youthful winemaker aspires to achieve. Pierre’s Pommard Les Vignots delivers the exquisite elegance Pinot Noir can achieve while his Bourgogne Vieilles Vignes has a vibrant energy and freshness sometimes lacking in Chardonnay.