NV Domaine Vincent Ricard Le Vinsans Blanc 750 ml

Blowing the Lid off a Chassagne-Montrachet Secret

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When brothers Vincent and François Jouard took over the family business in 1990, things were just heating up. The tradition was there — the family had been making wine in Chassagne-Montrachet for over a century. The vineyard was prime — old vines formed the vast majority of the family’s Grand Cru and Premier Cru holdings, including a meticulously cultivated parcel in the 1er Cru Morgeot Les Fairendes lieux-dit.

Vincent, the elder brother, took over the vineyard, instituting sustainable farming practices, doing everything by hand. François headed to the chai, intent on making wines that would showcase the family’s world-class vineyard.

The brothers got to work, and over the last three decades, the Jouards have done just about everything right. With monk-like patience, Vincent and François waited for the moment when history, persistence, and Mother Nature would come together, yielding a blockbuster Chardonnay to catapult the domaine onto the world stage.

Finally, in 2014, that moment arrived.

The winter of 2013-2014 was mild and dry, as was early spring, and the 85-year-old vines of Morgeot Les Fairendes got off to a blazing start. May was cool and wet, providing a much-needed drink for Chardonnay and slowing ripening, allowing concentration to build. Flowering went off without a hitch, making for a large, healthy fruit set. All was perfect. Perhaps too perfect. And then, as had been the case in each of the previous years, Nature threw a curveball.

On June 28th, hail pelted the vines, cutting yields in half. While the result certainly trimmed our allocation, it also had an impact on quality, ensuring that the remaining grapes would be tremendously concentrated and flavorful.

The last days of August and the first two weeks of September were glorious. Turquoise skies. Warm days and cool nights. When the call to harvest came in September, Chardonnay berries were loaded with sugar, yet acids were vivid and electrifying. The tiny crop drawn off the Jouards’ Chassagne holdings was perfectly clean, making for what Robert Parker called their “best set of wines.” Despite or perhaps because of the season’s challenges, 2014 is today considered by many, including Wine Spectator, as possibly the best vintage for white Burgundy since 1985! All the evidence you’d need to make the case can be found in the 2014 Domaine Vincent et François Jouard Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Morgeot Les Fairendes Vieilles Vignes.

Clear white-gold color. Aromas of toasted wheat and ripe yellow apple, with smoky, chalky minerals. The palate is brimming with energy and tension considering the texture is rich and mouth-coating due to the very old vines. This is great white Burgundy. Drink now to 2025.

We’re not sure exactly how the wines of Vincent and François Jouard have managed to stay somewhat of an industry secret, but we are sure that’s all about to change — if it hasn’t already. Robert Parker spotlighted the estate in Wine Advocate Issue #224, and noted this was “an opportune moment to grab some of these fabulous wines.” For now, 150 bottles of the 2014 are up for grabs. In a few hours they’ll all be gone. $80 on release. Just $62.99 today, ONLY on WineAccess.