ÉCHEZEAUX

2020 Grand Cru Domaine Georges Mugneret-Gibourg

EN PRIMEUR

They used 15% whole bunches here, a rarity at this address. Masses of concentration here, it's rich and ripe and quite massive, with quite a bold tannic frame. Drinking range: 2035 - 2050L&S (Nov 2021)

* This is a pre-shipment/primeur offer. All orders are accepted under the TERMS of this offer which differ from the terms of the rest of the site.

A seductive and ripe aroma. Rich, satin fluidity. It is very ripe and glossy but finds a happy equilibrium of dark fruit and freshness. It’s long and fine on the finish, with a scented floral note to the end. Drinking range: 2030 - 2040 Rating: 96 World of Fine Wine Magazine (Apr 2022)

The Mugnerets have two parcels here: one in the Quartier de Nuits that is flat and hosts old vines and another in Rouges du Bas. This saw a small, 15% infusion of whole clusters, which was not used on any other cuvée in 2020. The sisters have been adding them here only since 2016 because their tank for this cuvée is just too big for the smaller harvests they've been having. This is vigorously ripe and even shows some dried fruits. The acidity is subtle, but the tannins have some nice kick. This needs some time to settle down. Drinking range: 2025 - 2040 Rating: 95 Christy Canterbury MW - TimAtkin.com (Feb 2022)

The 2020 Echezeaux Grand Cru is perfumed and dramatic, soaring from the glass with scents of sweet red berries, cassis, exotic spices, rose petals, orange rind and smoke. Full-bodied, broad and layered, it's textural and enveloping, with a lavish core of fruit, striking depth at the core and a long, resonant finish. Framed by powdery tannins and succulent acids, it will offer a wide drinking window. Rating: 94-96 William Kelley, The Wine Advocate (Jan 2022)

(the blend has now changed from 50/50 to two-thirds/one-third in the climats of Les Rouges du Bas and Les Quartiers de Nuits; 15% whole cluster vinification). Here too there is just enough wood influence to note on the very ripe though still reasonably fresh aromas of black raspberry coulis and a lovely array of spice nuances. The caressing, intense and enveloping medium weight plus flavors possess a velvety mid-palate that contrasts moderately with the powerful, markedly tannic and impressively long finish where a touch of warmth emerges. Drinking range: 2037 - Rating: 91-94 Allen Meadows, www.Burghound.com (Jan 2022)

15% of whole cluster, which shows to a surprising degree on the nose. The colour is typically intense purple. The bouquet is still very heady, but the aromatics have an additional florality and the fruit stretches further on the palate. Still quite a lush texture, black fruit slightly to the fore. The 2020 Echezeaux has a really fine long finish with some juicy red fruit. 13.7% alcohol. Tasted: November 2021 Rating: 95-97 Jasper Morris - Inside Burgundy  (Jan 2022)

The 2020 Echézeaux Grand Cru is the only cuvée with whole bunch, around 25% this year. It comes from two parcels that are always picked on the same day and matured in 60% new oak with a very light toasting. Brambly red fruit, wild hedgerow and briary on the nose that (again) blossoms with aeration whilst maintaining outstanding focus. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy red fruit, fine acidity, taut and fresh with a bit of sinew on the finish, a bit of grip. So give this 5-8 years in bottle. Drinking range: - 2050 Rating: 93-95 Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (Dec 2021)

Domaine Mugneret-Gibourg was founded in 1933 on the marriage of Jeanne Gibourg and André Mugneret. Holdings then consisted of Bourgogne, village Nuits, village Vosne and Echezeaux. Their son Georges, an opthalmologist by day, added to the vineyards, but his acquisitions (Nuits 1ers Crus Vignes Rondes and Chaignots, Chambolle 1er Cru Feusselottes, and Grands Crus Clos Vougeot and Ruchottes Chambertin) were kept separate as Domaine Georges Mugneret.

On Georges' death in 1988, his widow Jacqueline and daughter Marie-Christine took over. Marie-Andrée, the younger daughter joined them a little later having completed her studies as an oenologist. In 2009 Jacqueline retired and the two domaine names were put together to become Domaine Georges Mugneret-Gibourg, ending the prior confusion of labels.

The sisters have proved more than safe hands as far as the winemaking is concerned, and these are top-flight Burgundies with that elusive balance of enough concentration allied with delicacy of expression and the capability to age well. All the vineyard management has been brought in-house (the domaine previously relied on two métayeurs for part of the vineyard) and the quality has reached new heights, its wines some of the most sought-after in the Côte de Nuits.

In 2017 Marie-Christine 's daughter Lucie joined the domaine, and Marion and Fanny, daughters of Marie-Andrée are now also part of the team.

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