Domaine Bitouzet-Prieur Meursault 'Clos du Cromin' 2020
(Burgundy, France) - [JM 91] [BH 90-92] [VM 90-92]

About The Winery:
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:
Clos du Cromin is a walled site within the larger lieu-dit of Le Cromin, situated immediately upslope from Bitouzet’s other Meursault parcel, Les Corbins in the northern sector of the appellation. Planted in 1951, Bitouzet’s third of a hectare of Chardonnay here yields a more mineral-driven, structurally stricter wine than Les Corbins, yet one which still shows ample flesh despite its youthful reticence, developing with time into a rich, well-balanced wine with a long finish. It spends 16 months in 20% new oak and is bottled after the second winter following harvest.

Ratings & Reviews: