Domaine Albert Grivault
Domaine Albert Grivault
#PROPERTY: History & Terroir
The history of Domaine Albert Grivault
Following the death of the Marquis de la Roche, an eminent member of the old French nobility and owner of Meursault's most prestigious land: Clos des Perrières, Albert Grivault, then aged just 19, saw in this tragic circumstance an opportunity to create an exceptional Meursault estate in his own name.
Despite the high cost of acquisition, the young Albert Grivault took the bold decision to become the owner of the prestigious "Clos des Perrières". A Premier Cru considered the most prestigious in Meursault and often compared to Montrachet. This acquisition truly marked the beginning of a new era for the estate, propelling its reputation to new heights through ownership of one of the region's most renowned vineyards. In 1904, he decided to make a remarkable donation to the Hospices de Beaune by offering a parcel of Meursault Charmes vines.
Albert Grivault's far-sighted vision, his willingness to invest despite financial challenges and his commitment to wine quality were the foundations of this decisive step. The "Clos des Perrières" thus became the jewel in the domain's crown, helping to write a remarkable history in the world of Burgundy wine.
Grivault's strategic decision proved to be the catalyst for an exceptional rise, elevating the estate to the most prestigious in the region.
Michel Bardet, craftsman of excellence
Michel Bardet, grandson and successor to Albert Grivault, takes a meticulous approach to winemaking at Domaine Albert Grivault. His primary objective is to create wines for aging, destined to evolve over time. To achieve this, he limits the use of new barrels, allowing the wines to develop a natural patina over the years. This method reveals his commitment to preserving the intrinsic characteristics of each vintage.
Ageing at Domaine Albert Grivault is a crucial stage in the winemaking process. Michel Bardet favors the use of rotating barrels over a 5-year period, a deliberate move to minimize the impact of wood on the wines. This meticulous approach preserves the subtle balance between fruit, structure and complexity, creating wines that age gracefully.
According to Michel Bardet, each Domaine Albert Grivault wine has its own distinct personality, with its own maturity date. This individualistic philosophy emphasizes the uniqueness of each cuvée, underlining the domaine's respect for the diversity of terroirs and the specificity of each vintage. In this way, the conscientious work of Michel Bardet and his daughter Claire contributes to maintaining the excellence of Domaine Albert Grivault and establishing its name among the undisputed references in the world of Burgundy wines.
Claire Bardet, Michel Bardet's daughter, plays an essential role alongside her father in the management of Domaine Albert Grivault. Together, they perpetuate a family tradition and age-old know-how that are reflected in the exceptional quality of the wines produced by the estate.
The Terroir of Domaine Albert Grivault
La Burgundyburgundy, with its rich diversity of terroirs, is known for its Pinot Noir-based red wines and Chardonnay-based white wines.
The AOC Meursaultlocated in the Côte de Beaune, is famous for its exceptional white wines, whose character is forged by clay and limestone soils. Thanks to its South/South-East exposure, this terroir guarantees optimal sunshine.
The wines of Meursault Villagesmeursault Villages wines, which do not have a specific climate, also feature the distinctive qualities of this renowned terroir.
Within Meursault, the "Les Perrières" climat gives rise to Meursault Perrières 1er Cru, a white wine renowned for its minerality and ageing potential. Other premier crus, such as "Les Charmes" and "Les Genevrières", contribute to the reputation of Meursault 1er Cru, each bringing its own unique characteristics to these excellent white wines.
Pommarda Côte de Beaune commune, stands out for its powerful red wines, mainly made from Pinot Noir grapes. Soils rich in clay and iron give Pommard wines a robust tannic structure and remarkable ageing potential. Pommard premier cru "Clos Blanc" wines reach maturity after 5 years.
Each Burgundy appellation, with its distinct terroir, contributes to the diversity and renown of the wines from this prestigious wine region.
Clos des Perrières: a terroir treasure within the Albert Grivault estate
The vines of Clos des Perrières are meticulously cared for by Domaine Albert Grivault. Protected by the imposing wall of the " Les Perrières " climate zone, these 94 ares and 52 centiares plots are ideally exposed, capturing the heat needed to promote optimal grape ripening. This pure gem of mineral-rich, stony soils adds a distinct dimension to the grapes' characteristics, contributing to the aromatic complexity of the resulting wines.
Comparison with the prestigious Montrachet underlines the exceptional quality of Clos des Perrières wines . Chardonnay, carefully cultivated on these soils, reaches a remarkable quintessence. The grapes reach perfect ripeness, offering a balance of ripe fruit, sustained acidity, palpable tension and a unique saline minerality. This combination of factors makes "Clos des Perrières" a must for lovers of Burgundy white wines.
Although "Clos des Perrières" has not acquired formal Grand Cru status, its universal recognition as equivalent to the eminent terroirs of Montrachet or Corton-Charlemagne attests to its exceptionality. This distinction is reinforced by the clos's enduring reputation, which remains an undisputed benchmark in the world of Burgundy wines.
By preserving and enhancing the unique terroir of "Clos des Perrières", Domaine Albert Grivault perpetuates Meursault's tradition of winemaking excellence. The exceptional quality of its wines testifies to the harmonious fusion of traditional know-how, meticulous attention to detail and deep respect for terroir that characterize this family estate.
#VINS DU DOMAINE : Appellations et Cuvées
The appellations of Domaine Albert Grivault
Although the Albert Grivault estate is geographically limited in terms of surface area, its richness lies in the diversity of its terroirs:
6 hectares of vines for 6 Burgundy appellations
The domaine offers cuvées from five different appellations in Meursault and one in Pommard.
Burgundy, Meursault, Meursault Villages, Meursault Perrières 1er Cru, Meursault 1er Cru, Pommard. Each parcel, with its own geographical identity, contributes to the creation of unique cuvées, faithfully reflecting the distinct characteristics of each terroir. This meticulous approach reinforces Domaine Albert Grivault's commitment to preserving and celebrating the nuances specific to each appellation.
The cuvées of Domaine Albert Grivault
In the heart of the Meursault commune, Domaine Albert Grivault boasts a diverse range of appellations, carefully crafted to reflect the unique essence of each terroir.
Pommard 1er Cru Clos Blanc
Bourgogne Clos du Murger
Meursault Clos du Murger
Meursault 1er Cru Clos des Perrières
Meursault 1er Cru Perrières
The domaine extends its expertise to the Burgundy appellation, where the wines produced bear the distinctive Domaine Albert Grivault hallmark. The expression of this appellation highlights the balance between the region's emblematic grape varieties, producing wines that captivate with their finesse and character.
The delicacy of Meursault Villages appellation wines, such as Clos du Murger , demonstrates the domaine's commitment to capturing the elegance characteristic of the region's white wines. These cuvées, cultivated with precision on clay and limestone soils, embody the typicity of Chardonnay in the delicate Meursault Villages appellation.
Among the estate's jewels, the " Clos des Perrières " in the Meursault 1er Cru appellation stands out as a prestigious monopole. This exclusive parcel of 94 ares and 52 centiares, located in the "Les Perrières" climat, benefits from an imposing protective wall. The stony soils and ideal exposure confer exceptional quality on the wines produced here. Meursault Perrières 1er Cru, another of the estate's nuggets, embodies the distinctive minerality and aromatic complexity of this renowned terroir.
Domaine Albert Grivault'sMeursault 1er Cru Clos des Perrières boasts an intense, luminous yellow color that captivates the eye from the very first moment. Its delicate bouquet, blending citrus fruit and white flowers such as honeysuckle, promises a pleasant olfactory experience. On the palate, the wine reveals remarkable energy, offering delicate harmony and promising potential. Pairing with spicy monkfish brochette, lobster bisque and oyster gratin underlines the versatility of this wine, revealing all its finesse and liveliness. A tasting that delights the senses and testifies to the exceptional quality of this Meursault 1er Cru des Perrières.
Domaine Albert Grivault Pommard 1er cru Clos Blanc
In the Pommard appellation, Domaine Albert Grivault's " Clos Blanc " is a red wine. A neighboring AOC to Les Epenots, this vineyard extends over 89 ares of rich marl and limestone soils, and exemplifies the exceptional definition of Pinot Noir. The red wines produced from this parcel reveal a controlled power, elegant tannic structure and ageing capacity that underline the estate's expertise in the art of working the noble Burgundian grape variety.
Through this variety of appellations, Domaine Albert Grivault crafts a range of wines that celebrate the diversity of Burgundy terroirs, while preserving the authenticity and excellence for which this family estate is renowned.
The best vintages of Domaine Albert Grivault
The estate is the subject of much conversation and praise, particularly for the remarkable quality of its white wines, and this reputation continues with the series of 2019 and 2020 vintages. Each wine in this collection is distinguished by characteristics that make them exceptional taste experiences.
Clos des Perrières from the 2018 and 2019 vintages rises to the top, distinguishing itself as one of the finest Burgundy whites tasted during the year. Its unique profile and remarkable elegance make it a benchmark in the wine world, underlining the domaine's ongoing excellence in producing exceptional wines. These glowing reviews confirm the domaine's well-deserved reputation as a leading producer of white wines in the Burgundy region.
#IN BRIEF: Figures
Region : Burgundy
Appellations : Meursault and Pommard
Surface area : 6 Hectares ( 5 Hectares white and 1 Hectare red )
Red grape variety : Pinot noir
White grape variety : Chardonnay
Vine cultivation : Reasoned