Domaine Jacques PRIEUR -- 2013 Whites from Cask

 Domaine Jacques PRIEUR (Meursault)

2013 Whites from Cask

As indicated for the post on the red wines, some wines were still in malolactic fermentation and so were not available to taste. As indicated below, hail was a major factor in Beaune, less so or not at all for the other appellations here. The Beaunes are probably for drinking on the young side.

2013 Meursault   Clos de Mazeray    blanc

There is not much of this wine in 2013, due more to the lack of juice in the grapes than to the hail. As a result, half of the wine was vinified in a foudre (very large cask) in order to give more fruit. This sample is from the foudre, as the wine in barrique was still undergoing malolactic fermentation. The nose is stony, mineral, and penetrating. The mouth is almost like a Perrières with some grapefruit, apples, and tremendous energy together with very good acidity, but also richness underneath. If this is typical of the whole, blended wine, it is a superb product, equal to a premier cru in quality. The grapes were harvested on October 3 at 12.8º potential alcohol. (89-93)

2013 Beaune 1er Cru – Les Grèves    blanc

White peaches and apple blossoms characterize the nose and mouth here. The wine is round with some richness and a touch of sucrosity. The vines here are only 7 years old – showing yet again that very good wine can be made from young grapes. There was a little hail in this vineyard. Harvest was on October 5 and the grapes came in at 11.7-8º potential alcohol. (90-93)

2013 Beaune 1er Cru – Clos de la Féguine     blanc

This wine is relatively rich with yellow peach fruit and good acidity, nervosity, and steeliness. The wine has excellent concentration, no doubt due to the effect of the hail (this vineyard was severely hit). The finish shows a touch of pleasing bitterness as well as hazelnut. Harvested on October 5. (90-93)

2013 Beaune 1er Cru – Champs Pîmont    blanc

This wine has a peach blossom nose. The mouth is round with a lovely acidic attack. It is not as complex or deep as the previous wines, but still good. The vineyard was heavily hailed upon. Harvest was on October 5. (87-91)

2013 Meursault 1er Cru – Les Santenots

The nose here is perfumed. The mouth shows good grip and stoniness and is medium-light. Like the Champs Pîmont, there is a little bitterness on the finish that is pleasant. The vines here are 13 years old. (90-93)

2013 Meursault-Perrières

The nose is classic Perrières stoniness. The mouth shows some richness with attractive white peach fruit, and the wine displays finesse (not what one always thinks of for Perrières), tension (the classic Perrières characteristic), and penetration (also classic for Perrières). All in all, an excellent example of Perrières. No hail here in 2013. Harvest was on October 2 with grapes at 12.5º potential alcohol. No botrytis here. (92-95)

2013 Chevalier-Montrachet

The nose is classic Chevalier – stony with oyster shells. The mouth is stony, light, and pure with length and nervosity – this is model Chevalier-Montrachet. Harvest was on October 3. (93-97)

Montrachet

The nose of pears and peaches is very fine. The mouth is round with power but lightness and the wine is tightly-wound. Harvest was on October 3 with the (very healthy) grapes coming in at 12.6-7º potential alcohol. (93-97)

Corton-Charlemagne

The nose here is very stony with peach-skin elements. The mouth, too, is stony and tightly-wound. This is very classic Corton-Charlemagne, and still needs time to develop. The vineyard faces east and is very high on the Corton hill, just below the forest. Harvest was on October 11. There was no botrytis here. (93-97)