A committed classicist, Vincent Bitouzet has provided us with over thirty-years worth of structured, demanding, age-worthy, satisfying wines, both red and white, from the heart of the Cote de Beaune. Based in Volnay and blessed with extensive holdings in Meursault as well, this domaine is a tried and true standard bearer for all that is fundamentally good and sound in Burgundy: conscientious and sensitive work in the vineyards, respect above all for the specific character of each lieu-dit, patience and attention to detail in the cellar, and a commitment to producing wines of depth and, of critical importance, longevity. To truly understand great white and red burgundy, one must wait for these grand expressions of terroir to mature to reveal their splendor and spectacular nuance.
Vincent Bitouzet's ancestral roots in Burgundy cover at least the last two centuries. His great-great grandfather, M. Gillotte, arrived in Auxey Duresses in 1802 and was mayor of that village. In 1804, the Bitouzet line settled in Volnay. The Bitouzets were one of the first of the family domaines in this region to bottle their wines. Vincent's grandfather had already garnered medals for his winemaking talents in 1860. Vincent's wife, Annie Prieur, has equally distinguished antecedents. Her family (both Prieurs and Perronnets) was long established in Meursault and Ladoix. The resulting "merger" of the Bitouzet and Prieur family holdings has created a domaine of distinction and breadth. Francois Bitouzet, the only son of Vincent and Annie, is now working hand-in-hand with his parents as he maintains the deep Burgundian roots of his ancestors.
Vincent Bitouzet has been in partnership with importer Neil Rosenthal for over 30 years, bringing classic, old-school Burgundy to wine lovers in the U.S. His great-great-grandfather established the domaine, and when Vincent married Anne Prieur she brought along her own family history of winemaking along with significant vineyard holdings. Today the domaine is about 12 hectares in Volnay and Meursault.
All of the Bitouzet-Prieur vineyards are farmed organically. Copper is kept to a minimum and sexual confusion is employed to reduce insect infestations. winemaking is very traditional, native yeast fermentation and aging in mostly used barrique.
About The Vineyard:
All of the fruit for this cuvée is the lieu-dit in Meursault known as "Les Herbeaux," in the northern quadrant of Meursault just underneath the Premier Cru "Les Malpoiriers." It is actually sandwiched between TWO Premier Crus.
Old vines add depth and complexity, so this is the closest you can come to the world famous excellence of Meursault for the money!
Bitouzet works a 0.71-hectare parcel of vines in the lieu-dit Les Herbeaux in northern Meursault, adjacent to premier cru 'Les Malpoiriers' and planted in the early 1950s (with a portion replanted in 2010). Aged 12 months on its fine lees in 228-liter barrels, a maximum of 15% of which are new, this Bourgogne Blanc presents as a Meursault in miniature, with sneaky power, pronounced salinity, and a tightly coiled structure that rewards a few years of cellaring.
