A beautifully expressive white Burgundy from one of Meursault’s most historic premier cru sites. The 2022 Les Gouttes d’Or from Bouchard Père & Fils offers ripe stone fruit and citrus, layered with mineral freshness and subtle pastry and nut notes. It’s rich and silky on the palate, yet vibrant, with a precise, saline finish. Enjoy now for its opulence or cellar for added complexity.

Jamessuckling.com | JS 94-95
Published: Jun 30, 2023

Rich and deep with stacks of ripe stone fruit illuminated by a citrusy and mineral acidity that deftly counterbalances the full body. Long, precise finish.

The Wine Advocate | RP 92-93
Published: Jan 18, 2024

Bursting with aromas of pear, peach and confit citrus mingled with freshly baked bread and hazelnuts, the 2022 Meursault 1er Cru Les Gouttes d'Or is medium to full-bodied, layered and satiny, with a vibrant but enveloping core of fruit, concluding with a saline finish.

The 2022 vintage is another tour de force for Bouchard, as the accompanying tasting notes reflect. Technical director Frédéric Weber reported little in the way of hydric stress, with rapid ripening at the end of the season that saw some parcels accumulate 1.5% potential alcohol in as little as three days. Fortunately, the team hadn't performed any deleafing and were able to apply protective kaolin clay as sunblock for the leaves and fruit to ride out the heat wave. Harvest began on August 26, with anything picked after 11 a.m. left overnight in a cold room for processing the following day, and the harvesters stopping work at 2 p.m.

As I've written before, viticulture chez Bouchard is among the best of the big houses (I drive past their Beaune vineyards several hundred times every year). Organic conversion is underway, and canopies are now hedged to 1.30 meters, around 30 centimeters higher than the classic low rognage that still predominates along the Côte—forward-thinking innovations that will no doubt find imitators in short order among other big players. Vinifications in red increasingly incorporate whole bunches, and whites are barreled down before the end of alcoholic fermentation, with foudres now employed for the second winter of élevage for some cuvées.

Bouchard-pereetfils.com

Bouchard Pere & Fils farms some 38 ares of this appellation which was classed ' Tete de Cuvee' as early as 1855. The sub-soil, with chalk and marl is similar to that of Genevrieres and Les Gouttes d'Or. Situated above Le Porusot, this Premier Cru is usually smoother than its neighbour, developing roundness and strength.