DOMAINE BITOUZET-PRIEUR

(VINCENT BITOUZET)

A committed classicist, Vincent Bitouzet has provided us with over a quarter-century's worth of structured, demanding, ageworthy, satisfying wines, both red and white, from the heart of the Cote de Beaune. Based in Volnay and blessed with extensive holdings in Meursault as well, this domaine is a tried and true standard bearer for all that is fundamentally good and sound in Burgundy: conscientious and sensitive work in the vineyards, respect above all for the specific character of each lieu-dit, patience and attention to detail in the cellar, and a commitment to producing wines of depth and, of critical importance, longevity for to truly understand great white and red burgundy one must wait for these grand expressions of terroir to mature to reveal their splendor and spectacular nuance.


PULIGNY MONTRACHET "LES LEVRONS" 2002:
Bitouzet has a splendid little parcel on the northern tier of Puligny situated just beneath the fine 1er Cru "Les Referts"; this little gem is quite fine, direct in its approach, firmly mineral, with great length and persistence on the palate; a classic Puligny kissed with about 1/3 new oak during elevage.

MEURSAULT "LES CORBINS" 2002:
this vineyard is located north of the village of Meursault on the way to Volnay; surprisingly round, with an enchanting mix of spice and mint to the nose and on the palate; excellent weight to this village wine with the classic roundness and buttery texture of this great appellation.

MEURSAULT "CLOS DU CROMIN" 2002:
again, just north of the village of Meursault but higher on the slope than the preceding site; a wine of consistently excellent penetration on the palate; normally dominated by its firm minerality, this vintage has brought additional weight and fat; round, well-balanced, and long in the finish with a hint of pear skin to the fruit; an exciting wine.

MEURSAULT 1ER CRU "SANTENOTS" 2002:
big, brawny, and sadly extrememly limited in availability; pale gold in color, very round with loads of material; glorious expression of acacia honey to the nose and palate.

MEURSAULT 1ER CRU "CHARMES" 2002:
a complete expression of this vineyard's special character as Bitouzet's holdings fall within two separate sites: one from the high part ("du Haut") and another from the lower section ("du Bas"); vinified separately and then blended together to create the whole; from the lower section comes a stony minerality and an almost tannic expression; the upper section yields explosive aromatics as well as a round, buttery mouthfeel; a beauty.

MEURSAULT 1ER CRU "PERRIERES" 2002:
firmly mineral, quite spicy, more elegant than the Charmes; a great wine of class and breed with remarkable density; a wine of extraordinary potential.

BEAUNE 1ER CRU "CENT VIGNES" 2002:
we enter the realm of Bitouzet's reds with his most charming wine; showing this appellation's typical soft tannins and gracious red cherry fruit; supple, silky, and fine with excellent balance and beautifully ripe fruit.

VOLNAY 2002:
excellent ruby-red color; fresh, fruity with exuberant red berry fruit that spreads on the palate; lightly tannic in the finish to let one know this is from Volnay.

VOLNAY 1ER CRU "LES AUSSY" 2002:
situated just beneath "Champans", this vineyard yields a wine that is strongly spicy with background notes of earth and truffle; its firm tannic backbone supports excellent round, generous, red berry fruit.

VOLNAY 1ER CRU "PITURES" 2002:
from the Pommard side of Volnay; a wilder wine with a sensual rusticity; the most "animal" of these wines, quite masculine and firm with profound tannins and great concentration; its deep color announces a wine of excellent density.

VOLNAY 1ER CRU "TAILLEPIEDS" 2002:
from one of the great vineyards of Volnay; deep color, lots of material; an aggressive wine with loads of character marked by minerality and notes of the the "soubois"; austere in its youth, this wine has proven its worth over and over in countless vintages; a keeper.

VOLNAY 1ER CRU "CLOS DES CHENES" 2002:
from the 2nd of the three outstanding 1er Cru sites in the Bitouzet domaine, this wine is a touch fruitier than the Taillepieds with slightly less stout tannins; a generous and quite exceptional wine that is deeply fruity (both red and black berries) and profound with impeccable balance.

VOLNAY 1ER CRU "CAILLERETS" 2002:
the synthesis of the above two wines: grace and power combined; round on the palate, with fine, long tannins, excellent density; a brooding beauty, less open than the above but with depth and character galore; extremely limited availability.