TN: 2013 Henri Germain et Fils Meursault 1er Cru Charmes aka Don't skip "off vintages"

WINE TALK
#1
  • 2013 Henri Germain et Fils Meursault 1er Cru Charmes - France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Meursault 1er Cru (2/6/2019)
    This is a stunning wine. It has dropped the “honey flavored” reduction now. Intense. Extremely mineral in character. Penetrating. Coming into a great window for drinking.
    The nose might improve but the palate is wonderful. Spicy. Complex. Very fresh. One of the best 2013 whites.

Posted from CellarTracker

#2

Thanks for the note Don.

I reckon '13 is proving itself to be terrific for whites.

#3

gonna say the same thing, I’ve been drinking a fair number of 2013 whites and they’ve been stunning wines.

#4

I had this last two years ago, liked it, but sounds like it has improved since then. BTW, I don’t consider 2013 an “off” vintage, at least not for whites, and I’ve really liked a lot of reds as well.

2013 Henri Germain et Fils Meursault 1er Cru Charmes - France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Meursault 1er Cru (2/17/2017)
Very light hay in color, with a green tinge; My first introduction to this producer, who I’ve heard about, but is rare to see in the U.S., this has some nice intensity, with a blast of umami and saline through the mid-palate, turning mineral and a bit austere on the finish. Flavor profile is a bit in the upper register, with higher toned notes, excellent acidity, very young and in need of at least a few years to settle in. Quite a good showing, with room on the upside with time in the bottle. (92 pts.)

#5

Bought quite a lot of white burgs in 201£. The Amiot CM Caillerets is spectacular.

#6

Looking forward to a 13 PYCM (can’t remember if it’s a Chassagne or Puligny…I’m picking it up when I head down to SoCal) that I will likely open sometime next weekend. Don’t know this producer at all, so much thanks for your notes, Don and Alan.

Mike

#7

In my view 2013 is not an off vintage. But neither is it a vintage for the long haul. Like 2007 and 2008 it is great for early to medium term drinking.

As such, due to the high standards of current winemaking (and global warming?), there almost are not bad vintages anymore for white burgundy, it is more a matter of when to drink the wines. Some require age while others are great for the first 5+ years. 2013 is in the later category for me, and I expect to have finished my bottles within the next few years.

#8

I’ve enjoyed the 13 pycm I’ve had lately.

#9

I am also enjoying the 2013 whites, which are often quite open already, but there is quite a bit of botrytis in some of the wines, especially those from Chassagne, that gives them a honeyed, musky quality that some may not appreciate. The 2013 Ramonet Boudriotte is the most obvious example of this that I’ve had lately.