Pierre Girardin : Beaune 1er cru "Les Grèves" 2020

Tasting characteristics and advice for the Beaune 2020 by Pierre Girardin

Tasting

Color
The wine displays a bright ruby-red hue.

Nose
The nose opens with appealing, fruit-driven aromas of ripe black cherries, complemented by vanilla notes brought by well-managed aging in French oak barrels.

Palate
On the palate, the wine is silky and vibrant, offering fine, elegant tannins. The fruit expresses itself with clarity, while the finish reveals lovely mineral persistence, the hallmark of old vines grown on the limestone and gravelly soils characteristic of the terroir.

Food and wine pairings

This Beaune pairs perfectly with herb-roasted chicken, creamy white meats with mushrooms, or simply seasoned grilled beef. It also goes very well with a selection of fine cured meats and aged cheeses such as Comté or Gruyère.

Serving and cellaring

This Beaune 2020 can be enjoyed now and will continue to evolve through around 2035.

An elegant, mineral Beaune from Domaine Pierre Girardin

The estate

Founded in 2016 by Pierre-Vincent Girardin, Domaine Pierre Girardin quickly established itself as one of Burgundy’s rising benchmarks. Based in Meursault, Pierre-Vincent now farms about 4.5 hectares of estate-owned vines, complemented by long-term contracts with partner growers, giving him access to prestigious plots spread across the Côte de Beaune and the Côte de Nuits. The thirteenth generation of winegrowers in his family, he has developed a personal style centered on elegance, finesse, and the authentic expression of terroirs, in contrast to the more generous approach of his father, Vincent Girardin. Certified organic since 2018 and applying biodynamic principles, the estate stands out for its minimalist winemaking practices and the use of 456-liter barrels for aging white wines, thereby limiting oak influence in favor of fruit purity.

The vineyard

This Beaune comes from some of the oldest vines in the area, with certain plots over 90 to 100 years old, allowing the roots to explore the soil’s deeper layers and draw out remarkable mineral complexity.

The vintage

The 2020 vintage in Burgundy was marked by exceptional weather conditions. After a winter with satisfactory rainfall, an early spring led to budbreak about two weeks ahead of average. Summer brought a succession of heatwaves and persistent drought, fortunately tempered by cool nights and a few timely rains in late August. These conditions resulted in the earliest harvest ever recorded in the region, with picking beginning as early as the end of August. Despite these climatic challenges, quality red wines managed to preserve their balance and freshness thanks to careful vinifications and harvesting at the optimal moment.

Winemaking and aging

The Beaune 2020 grapes were vinified according to the minimalist winemaking principles dear to Pierre Girardin. Fermentation took place in temperature-controlled tanks at low temperatures, with delicate destemming preserving many whole berries. No punch-downs were performed; only gentle pump-overs were used to manage temperature and encourage delicate extraction. Total maceration lasted between 22 and 25 days. After pressing, the wine was aged for about twelve months in 225-liter French oak barrels, with a moderate proportion of new oak between 35% and 50%. The wine was neither fined nor filtered before bottling, which was carried out according to the lunar calendar.

Grape variety

100% Pinot Noir