The Wine Advocate | RP 91-93
Published: Jan 20, 2022

Notes of citrus zest, white flowers, freshly baked bread and mandarin orange introduce the 2020 Meursault 1er Cru Les Bouchères, a medium to full-bodied, deep and fleshy wine that's lively and penetrating, concluding with promising grip on the finish.

Technical director Frédéric Weber and his team have realized another fine vintage chez Bouchard Père & Fils, beginning harvest on 19 August and sorting to remove dehydrated berries. The vineyards fared well despite a significant hydric deficit, testimony to viticulture that's among the best of the big houses; indeed, organic conversion is underway, and canopies are now hedged to 1.30 meters, around 30 centimeters higher than the classic low rognage that still predominates along the Côte—forward-thinking innovations that will no doubt find imitators in short order among other big players. In any case, the resulting wines have turned out beautifully, with alcohols in the region of 13% to 13.5% and lower pHs than in 2019. Vibrant, intensely colored and beautifully balanced, there are plenty of cuvées here that I'd be delighted to own. White wines chez Bouchard, readers should note, are bottled under DIAM closures.

Bouchard-pereetfils.com

Bouchard Pere & Fils farms some 38 ares of this appellation which was classed ' Tete de Cuvee' as early as 1855. The sub-soil, with chalk and marl is similar to that of Genevrieres and Les Gouttes d'Or. Situated above Le Porusot, this Premier Cru is usually smoother than its neighbour, developing roundness and strength.  

TASTING NOTE: Bright pale gold color. Rich and complex bouquet developing flavours or dry fruit and brioche. Well-balanced  on the mouth. A nice wine. 

FOOD/WINE PAIRING: Fish and poultry in cream sauce, foie gras. 
SERVING TEMPERATURE: Between 12C to 14C 
AGEING POTENTIAL: 7 to 10 years and more 
HARVEST: manual, in small cases of 13 kg. Careful manual sorting of each grape. 
VINIFICATION: The pressing takes place in two phases: evacuation of the first juice, then pressing in two-hourly cycles. 
MATURING: 9 to 10 months in French oak, with up to 15% new oak, depending on the vintage and 3 to 4 months in stainless steel vats. 
AGEING: The cellars located in the Bastions of the ancient Chateau de Beaune offer natural ambient conditions that are perfectly adopted to ageing the Premiers Crus. 

GRAPE VARIETY: Chardonnay 
EXPOSITION: East-Southeast 
SOIL OF THE APPELATION: Limestone and marls 
TOTAL SURFACE OF THE APPELATION IN PRODUCTION: 4.41 hectares