Jean-Michel Gaunoux Bourgogne Côte-d'Or Blanc 2022

The Jean-Michel Gaunoux Bourgogne Blanc 2021 is a delightful expression of the exquisite terroir of Burgundy, a region synonymous with fine wine. This cherished label hails from Meursault-Blagny, with Gaunoux's painstaking approach to winemaking reflecting in each vibrant sip. Meursault is hallowed ground for Chardonnay, a paradise for Burgundy collectors.

This begins quite rich up front but the acid sings through on the mid-palate. Only 30% new oak so the fruit purity is able to sing through. Creaminess through the middle and orchard fruit on the end. It’s ripe, but that ripeness is controlled and focused.

Crafted by the esteemed Jean-Michel Gaunoux himself, an artisanal vintner who upholds the distinguished tradition of winemaking passed down from generations, this Blanc is a meticulously made beverage. Grown in limestone-clay soils, the Chardonnay grapes used for this Blanc lend it a unique, textured character. Following selective hand-picking, the grapes undergo traditional vinification and ageing in French oak. The result is a wine offering a symphony of complex, harmonious flavours - think citrus subtly coating a mineral core, with wisps of vanilla and toast lingering in the finish. The Jean-Michel Gaunoux Bourgogne Blanc remains a stellar choice for those seeking an immersive, memorable experience in French viticulture.

The Gaunoux family’s winemaking history stretches back to 1875, when Alexandre Gaunoux settled in the Côte de Beaune. Gaunoux’s son, Henri, skyrocketed the estate’s reputation for quality and expanded its roster of vineyards. After Henri passed away in 1972, his two sons, Michel and Francois, divided up the vineyard parcels, creating Domaine Michel Gaunoux in Pommard and Domaine François Gaunoux in Meursault. Jean-Michel Gaunoux worked with his father, Francois, at Domaine François Gaunoux for several years, but after acquiring vineyard parcels from his mother’s family in 1990, he ventured out on his own to start Domaine Jean-Michel Gaunoux.

Jean-Michel’s vineyards include small parcels across the Côte d’Or—most notably his Premier Cru Meursault holdings. The vineyards are all treated with the utmost care; he practices lutte raisonnée -- the “reasoned struggle” -- by which he avoids the use of pesticides in the soil, and utilizes green harvesting for low yields. In the cellar, Henri uses traditional methods and a light touch, using a modest amount of new oak and neither filtering nor fining his wines.

The wines of Domaine Jean-Michel Gaunoux show the balance, purity, and age-worthiness that have long earned the Côte d’Or praise.