The Bouchard Père & Fils Beaune 1er Cru Les Grèves Vigne de l'Enfant Jésus 2020 stands out as one of the finest wines from the Beaune appellation. Aged in 30-50% new French oak, this wine displays superbly luxurious fruit, balanced by nuanced spice, smoke, and earthy flavors. With its dense yet elegant texture, it's powerful yet sophisticated. Critics describe it as concentrated, structured, and with excellent ageing potential, expected to improve over the next decade. Flavors of blackberries, raspberries, rose petals, and dark chocolate unfold on the palate, with a finish marked by rich tannins and succulent acidity. A true Burgundy gem from one of Beaune's best sites.

Decanter.com Tasted by Charles Curtis MW | D 95
Burgundy, 10 Nov 2021
Drink: 2025-2050

Bouchard has nearly four hectares of this, perhaps the greatest site in the Beaune appellation. On a modest slope with east-southeast exposure in the heart of the terroir, this has produced a sophisticated, elegant wine in 2020, fermenting out to barely 13.5% alcohol with a pH between 3.5?3.6. The fruit is supremely luxurious and lush, yet underscored with plenty of nuance of spice, smoke, earth, and leather. The texture is dense and powerful yet superbly elegant - a triumph.

The Wine Advocate | RP 92-94
Publisehd: Jan 20, 2022

Unfurling in the glass with aromas of blackberries and raspberries mingled with notions of warm spices, rose petals, orange rind and dark chocolate, the 2020 Beaune 1er Cru Les Gr?ves Vigne de l'Enfant Jesus is medium to full-bodied, ample and concentrated, with a deep core of fruit that's framed by rich, powdery tannins and succulent acids. It's a terrific effort that should land toward the upper end of my score range.

Jamessuckling.com | JS 94
Published: Sep 29, 2022

Still pretty closed, this is a concentrated and seriously structured wine for a Beaune 1er Cru, which has clearly been built for the long-term. However, its the pronounced, stony minerality that makes this exciting. Bold and still quite tight finish. From a 3.92-hectare plot in one of Beaune's top sites. From organically grown grapes. Drinkable now, but best from 2024.

Jancisrobinson.com | JR 16
Published: Feb 3, 2022
Drink: 2024-2032 

BP&F own this plot of 3.9 ha of the 30 ha total in mid slope. Sandy, well-drained soil. Earlier-maturing than Clos de la Mousse, the second climat to be picked. Weber separates young (destemmed) and old vines (50% whole bunch) and vinifies them separately. 20 to 25% new oak.
Pale crimson with a pale rim. Grainy texture and some real depth and energy. Caresses the palate with life but it is a bit sweet… Fruit flavours veer towards blackcurrant, which is unusual for a red burgundy. Not my favourite in this collection. Just a bit too sweet. 

Bouchard-pereetfils.com

TASTING NOTE: Superb fruit and spice aromas with an oaky note on the nose. Intense, full and yet delicate on the palate, the wine has a charming velvetiness. Very good ageing potential.
FOOD/WINE PAIRING: Game birds, fattened chicken in cream sauce, Burgundian cheeses.
SERVING TEMPERATURE: Between 17?C to 18?C
AGEING POTENTIAL: 7 to 10 years and more

K N O W - H O W
HARVEST: manual, in small cases of 13 kg. Careful manual sorting of each grape.
VINIFICATION: Following total or partial destemming on the vintage, fermentation in small containers, gentle pressing ensure optimal vinification. Depending on the profile of the vintage, vatting lasts 15 to 20 days.
MATURING: 12 to 14 months in French oak, with 30 to 50% new oak.
AGEING: The cellars of the Bastions of the ancient Ch?teau de Beaune offer natural ambient conditions that are perfectly adapted to ageing the Premiers Crus.

GRAPE VARIETY: Pinot Noir
EXPOSITION: East-Southeast
SOIL OF THE APPELATION: Limestone and clay, sandy and gravelly
DOMAIN SURFACE IN PRODUCTION: 3.92 hectares