DOMAINE PATRICK JAVILLIER 2021 VINTAGE EN PRIMEUR
Marion Javillier, daughter of Patrick Javillier, now runs the domaine, having gradually taken over from her father. Patrick took the reins from his father in 1974 and expanded the holdings to the current ten hectares.
Marion makes the red wines herself, and the whites with her brother-in-law, Pierre-Emmanuel. 80% of the domaine’s production is Chardonnay and 20% Pinot Noir.
The 2021s are, in Marion’s words, “great – typicity of terroir, freshness…” Across the estate, the grapes were small, with a high skin to juice ratio.
Harvest started on 21st September, lasting just five days, versus the usual 8-10.
THE 2021 VINTAGE AT DOMAINE PATRICK JAVILLIER
Meursault was right in the cross-hairs of the April 2021 frost. Of the season, Marion simply said, “I have no words. Even my father has never seen a vintage like 2021.” The domaine lost 50-80% of the whites. The worst losses of the Côte de Beaune were in Meursault itself – Domaine Javillier lost 80% here.
The quality, however, is in Marion’s words, “great – typicity of terroir, freshness…” The vineyards struggled to get moving again after the frost. Marion told us that in Les Tillets, the first green shoot was seen at the end of May/beginning of June. Across the estate, the grapes were small, with a high skin to juice ratio. Harvest started on 21st September, lasting just five days, versus the usual 8-10.
THE WINES
Meursault was right in the cross-hairs of the April 2021 frost. Of the season, Marion simply said, “I have no words. Even my father has never seen a vintage like 2021.” The domaine lost 50-80% of the whites. The worst losses of the Côte de Beaune were in Meursault itself – Domaine Javillier lost 80% here.
The quality, however, is in Marion’s words, “great – typicity of terroir, freshness…” The vineyards struggled to get moving again after the frost. Marion told us that in Les Tillets, the first green shoot was seen at the end of May/beginning of June. Across the estate, the grapes were small, with a high skin to juice ratio. Harvest started on 21st September, lasting just five days, versus the usual 8-10.
WHITES
BOURGOGNE CÔTE D’OR CUVÉE DES FORGETS
VOLNAY £135/CASE OF 6 BOTTLES, IN BOND UK
Named after the Rue des Forges, where the domaine is based, this comes from a number of parcels on the Volnay side of Meursault, on clay-rich soil which delivers density. Tasted in October 2022 – and although the wine had been sulphured the week before, there was fabulous clarity and expressiveness of ripe peach and apricot fruit. Around 20% new oak.
Corney & Barrow Score 17+
Recommended drinking from 2023–2026
BOURGOGNE CÔTE D’OR CUVÉE OLIGOCÈNE
VOLNAY £175/CASE OF 6 BOTTLES, IN BOND UK
This is named after the Oligocène geological epoch, from which these limestone-rich plots date. The vines are on the Puligny-Montrachet (southern) side of the village, below Meursault 1er Cru Les Charmes Dessous. 65% of the crop here was lost – and for that reason, we didn’t taste it when we visited. The drinking range below is therefore an estimate.
Recommended drinking from 2023–2026
MEURSAULT LES CLOUSOTS
VOLNAY £395/CASE OF 6 BOTTLES, IN BOND UK
The name Clousots reflects the blend of Les Clous (deep clay soils, mid-slope) and Crotots (limestone-rich). The latter, south of the village, is just beneath 1er Cru Les Poruzots. The two parcels are always vinified separately and then blended. Not tasted, for the same reason as the previous wine (50% was lost here). Generally, Clousots combines the flesh and opulence of Les Clous with the flinty mineral definition of Crotots.
Recommended drinking from 2024–2029
MEURSAULT CUVÉE TÊTE DE MURGER
VOLNAY £525/CASE OF 6 BOTTLES, IN BOND UK
This is another blend of two sites, vinified separately, Les Murgers de Monthélie and Les Casse-Têtes (literally “broken heads” [of the stones] – a rocky, limestone-rich site). This had a flinty mineral bite when tasted in October 2022, with an expressive fleshiness of white peach fruit and white flower perfume lingering on the finish.
Corney & Barrow Score 17.5
Recommended drinking from 2024–2029
REDS
SAVIGNY-LÈS-BEAUNE 1ER CRU LES SERPENTIÈRES
VOLNAY £250/CASE OF 6 BOTTLES, IN BOND UK
There is more limestone than clay in Serpentières, underscoring the tension of this wine. The Pinot buds had not started to develop by the time of the frost so, very fortunately, yields here are around normal. 3,600 bottles were produced. Dark, spicy aromas. The palate’s crunchy bitter cherry fruit comes to a fine, elegant point, which is the signature of Serpentières. This spends ten months in barrel, then goes into stainless steel vats before bottling. 30% new oak, 100% destemmed.
Corney & Barrow Score 17.5
Recommended drinking from 2025–2030
ORDER TODAY
[email protected] | +65 6221 8530