Pierre Girardin : Beaune 1er cru "Les Epenottes" 2018

Characteristics and tasting advice for the Beaune 1er cru "Les Epenottes" 2018 by Pierre Girardin

Tasting

Appearance

The wine displays a deep garnet hue with slightly lighter highlights at the rim of the glass.

Nose

The bouquet reveals lovely aromatic complexity, with notes of black cherry, raspberry and blackcurrant, underscored by mineral nuances evocative of limestone. Delicate floral touches of dried rose and violet lend a refined dimension to the whole.

Palate

On the palate, the wine charms with its velvety, generous texture. The tannins are refined and silky, providing an elegant structure with no roughness. The fruit expression shows fine depth, with black-fruit aromas alongside tertiary notes of leather and forest floor. The mineral dimension brings precision and clarity to the whole. The finish stands out for its remarkable length and aromatic persistence.

Food and wine pairings

This Beaune 1er cru pairs perfectly with roasted or braised red meats, notably beef in sauce or roast lamb. It also matches very well with fine poultry such as duck, particularly when prepared with fruity sauces. Game dishes such as venison or wild boar are also excellent pairings. For cheeses, opt for soft washed-rind cheeses like vacherin, or semi-firm pressed cheeses.

Serving and cellaring

Serve the Beaune 1er cru "Les Epenottes" 2018 at a temperature between 15 and 17°C to fully appreciate its aromatic complexity and silky structure.

An elegant, structured Beaune 1er cru, the signature of a young Burgundian talent

The estate

Pierre Girardin founded his domaine in 2016 in Meursault, with a first vintage released in 2017, at just 19 years old. The son of Vincent Girardin, a renowned winegrower in Burgundy, he represents the thirteenth generation of winegrowers in his family. The domaine spans around 4.5 hectares of estate-owned vineyards, complemented by supply agreements with winegrowers who share his philosophy. Pierre Girardin farms his vineyards according to organic principles and favors a low-intervention approach in the cellar. His style is defined by the pursuit of purity, elegance and freshness, with carefully controlled aging designed to preserve the authentic expression of Burgundian terroirs.

The vineyard

The climat Les Epenottes lies at the southern limit of the Beaune appellation, immediately bordering Pommard. This distinctive location gives the wine intermediate characteristics between the typical finesse of Beaune wines and the more assertive structure of Pommard. The terroir is based on clay-limestone soils rich in limestone, characteristic of the Côte de Beaune. The southeast-facing parcels encourage optimal ripening of the grapes. The mid-slope position offers ideal sunshine conditions while preserving the freshness essential to the wine’s elegance.

The vintage

The 2018 vintage in Burgundy was marked by particularly hot, sunny weather conditions. High temperatures during flowering and the ripening period favored very ripe grapes with significant sugar levels. These generous, sunny conditions naturally guided the wines toward rounder, more voluptuous profiles, requiring particular attention during vinification to preserve freshness and elegance.

Winemaking and aging

To produce the Beaune 1er cru "Les Epenottes" 2018, Pierre Girardin carried out a partial destemming of the grapes, keeping a proportion of whole clusters to bring aromatic complexity and an elegant structure. Fermentation took place with the naturally occurring indigenous yeasts. Extraction was handled gently, favoring light punch-downs and moderate pump-overs in order to preserve the wine’s silky, refined character. Fermentation temperatures were kept cool to maximize aromatic finesse. After malolactic fermentation, the wine was aged in oak barrels for around twelve months. Bottling was carried out without fining or filtration, thereby preserving the full aromatic complexity and textural richness developed during aging.

Grape variety

100% Pinot Noir