Méo-Camuzet : Echezeaux Grand cru Domaine 2024

An Echezeaux from Burgundy, from the Upper Part of the Appellation, by Méo-Camuzet

The estate

Based in Vosne-Romanée, in the heart of the Côte de Nuits in Burgundy, the Méo-Camuzet estate owes its name to the union of two lineages. The first is that of Étienne Camuzet, a winegrower, mayor of Vosne-Romanée and member of parliament for the Côte-d'Or. The second is the Méo family, who inherited the estate through Jean Méo. A family-owned property, it is now run by Jean-Nicolas Méo, who personally tends all of the vines. Shaped by the influence of his mentor Henri Jayer, he champions fruit, freshness and a demanding approach to viticulture, close to organic practices.

The vineyard

This Echezeaux Grand Cru comes from a plot at the upper limit of the Echezeaux appellation in Burgundy, with an exposure that favours early ripening. The soil becomes lighter the higher one climbs the slope. The grapes are small, especially at the top of the plot. They often reach high sugar levels while retaining fine acidity, and must be picked at exactly the right moment, as they do not tolerate waiting well.

The estate is not certified organic, but follows organic practices. It uses organic-approved products, ploughs the soil, avoids chemical weedkillers and uses horses in difficult areas. Pruning, canopy management and green harvesting are carried out vine by vine.

The vintage

After a mild, wet autumn and winter, spring remained rainy. Downy mildew then resumed its activity at an unprecedentedly early stage. The rain persisted until flowering, and affected bunches were spotted even before then, which reduced the crop. Fine weather arrived only as the harvest approached, with a north wind bringing dry, cool conditions. The grapes remained generally healthy despite the earlier attacks. Picking began in mid-September.

Vinification and ageing

At Méo-Camuzet, this Echezeaux Grand Cru is made using what is described as a low-intervention approach to winemaking. The grapes are hand-harvested into small crates. They are then sorted on a conveyor belt at the winery. The grapes undergo a cold maceration. Fermentation then starts naturally, without exogenous yeasts, and temperatures are controlled. Pumping over is carried out at the start of fermentation, followed by punching down at the end. The wines are bottled by gravity, without filtration.

Grape variety

The 2024 Echezeaux Grand Cru from Méo-Camuzet is 100% Pinot Noir.