Domaine Jacques Prieur, 2020 Vintage by corneyandbarrowltd

DOMAINE JACQUES PRIEUR 2020 VINTAGE EXCLUSIVE TO CORNEY & BARROW IN THE UNITED KINGDOM

"A record-early harvest, of grapes of perfect ripeness..." WINEMAKER NADINE GUBLIN, OCTOBER 2021

DOMAINE JACQUES PRIEUR 2020 ‘DJP’, as it has become known, was established in 1868. The vineyard acquisitions were started by Jacques Prieur’s predecessors and continued by Jacques himself, who also went on to co-found the famous Chevaliers du Tastevin in 1934. The Labruyère family arrived in Meursault, where the domaine is based, in 1988. Their Domaine Labruyère is the oldest estate in Moulin-à-Vent. Building on the extensive holdings of the Prieur family, the late Jean-Pierre Labruyère and his son Édouard Labruyère have put DJP on the map.

Technical Director Nadine Gublin was appointed in 1990, since when she has established herself as one of France’s leading winemakers. Owner Édouard Labruyère took charge of the family estates in 2008. Beside DJP and Domaine Labruyère in Moulin-à-Vent, he also oversees (in the most hands-on sense) Champagne JM Labruyère in Verzenay and Château Rouget in Pomerol. Since we started as the domaine’s exclusive UK agent in the 2013 vintage, the wines of the Labruyère family estates have become highly sought-after, demand for DJP now comfortably outstripping supply. The notes in this offer are based on an extensive tasting at the domaine with Nadine Gublin and cellar master Romain Pertuzot, in October 2021.

GUY SEDDON February 2022

HISTORY The DJP story started on 24th February 1868, with the marriage of 22 year-old Claude Duvergey to 19 year-old Marie Taboureau, both from winemaking families. Claude Duvergey (1847-1920) m. Marie Taboureau

Henri Prieur m. Hélène Taboureau

Jacques Prieur (1893-1965) 1879: Claude buys a château in Meursault, Les Herbeux, which remains the heart of Domaine Jacques Prieur to this day.

VINEYARD ACQUISITIONS – A BUSY TWO YEARS…

1889: Meursault Clos de Mazeray Monopole Volnay Santenots 4.5 hectares of Clos Vougeot 1890: Volnay 1er Cru Clos des Santenots (in its entirety) Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Combettes Le Montrachet

1891: Claude and Marie are childless. Marie's niece, Hélène Taboureau, marries Henri Prieur from Beaune. 1893: Henri and Hélène’s son Jacques Prieur is born.

MORE VINEYARD ACQUISITIONS… 1895: Musigny Vineyard swap: Clos Vougeot plot for Chambertin and Clos de Bèze 1907: Chevalier-Montrachet

1920: Claude Duvergey dies on 9th March and bequeathes his estate to Jacques Prieur. 1924: Jacques Prieur and Comte Jules Lafon establish the famous Paulée de Meursault. 1956: Following Jacques’ mother’s death, the estate is renamed Domaine Jacques Prieur. 1965: Jacques Prieur dies, followed in 1974 by his wife, leaving the domaine to their six children. 1988: Five French families, including the Labruyères, acquire the domaine. 1990: Nadine Gublin appointed Technical Director. Grands crus of Corton-Bressandes and Corton-Charlemagne added shortly after. 2008: Arrival at the domaine of Édouard Labruyère.

THE VINEYARDS From Chambertin to Chevalier-Montrachet – you name it, Domaine Jacques Prieur is likely to have vines there… Le Chambertin, Clos de Bèze, Le Musigny, Clos de Vougeot, Échézeaux, Corton-Bressandes, CortonCharlemagne, Chevalier-Montrachet and Le Montrachet – plus a host of premiers crus traversing Beaune, Volnay and Meursault, where the domaine is located. THE HOLDINGS The domaine’s 21 hectares have been worked organically since 1997 and biodynamically since 2009. AREA IN HECTARES (HA)

AVERAGE VINE AGE IN 2020 (YEARS)

Chambertin (including Clos de Bèze)

0.9

Musigny

0.8

Clos Vougeot

1.2

Échézeaux

0.4

Corton-Bressandes

0.8

Corton-Charlemagne

0.2

Chevalier-Montrachet

0.2

Montrachet

0.6

Gevrey-Chambertin

0.9

Beaune Rouge Champs-Pimont

2.1

Beaune Blanc Champs-Pimont

1.4

Beaune Rouge Clos de la Féguine Monopole

1.6

Beaune Blanc Clos de la Féguine Monopole

0.3

Beaune Rouge Grèves

1.2

Beaune Blanc Grèves

0.5

Volnay-Champans

0.3

Replanting

Volnay Clos des Santenots Monopole

1.2

Volnay Santenots

0.6

Pommard Charmots

0.3

Meursault-Charmes

0.1

Meursault-Perrières

0.3

Meursault-Santenots

0.2

Puligny-Montrachet Les Combettes

1.5

Meursault Rouge Clos de Mazeray Monopole

0.6

Meursault Blanc Clos de Mazeray Monopole

2.6

GRANDS CRUS

PREMIERS CRUS

VILLAGES

THE CELLAR Winemaker Nadine Gublin destems most of the Pinot Noir, although some whole clusters are included when deemed advantageous. There is a double sorting table, to ensure the grapes are pristine. Red wine maceration lasts around 20 days, consisting of three to five days of cold soak at 14˚C before fermentation, with a post-fermentation maceration of five to seven days, protecting the surface with a cap of carbon dioxide. Pigeage, or punching-down, is done twice a day for the first three days of fermentation, then once a day thereafter, but with no pumping-over. New oak is around 50-80% for the grands crus and 20-30% for the premiers crus. For the white wines, the grapes are pressed immediately using a pneumatic press and transferred to stainless steel vats for 12-14 hours’ settling. Around 20 months’ élevage is the norm, with 100% malolactic conversion. Since 2007, there has been no battonage (lees stirring). Only natural yeasts are used. Since 2008, the red and white wines have been made in separate cellars to keep their different natural yeast strains separate.

THE TEAM When not busy at Domaine Jacques Prieur, there is the small matter of the other three Labruyère family estates… Domaine Labruyère in Moulin-à-Vent was established in 1850. Édouard Labruyère has run the family’s estates since 2008, when he took over from his late father. The family also owns Château Rouget in Pomerol and Champagne JM Labruyère, a brilliant grower-producer in Verzenay, Montagne de Reims.

Édouard Labruyère

Édouard Labruyère was born in 1976 at the original family domaine in Moulin-à-Vent. Following a short period in the diplomatic service, he returned to the world of wine in 2003, working as a courtier in Bordeaux from 2003 until 2008. He has run the family wine estates since 2008.

Nadine Gublin

Daniel Godefroy

Nadine Gublin has been head winemaker at Domaine Labruyère since 1988. After a decade at the domaine, she was named ‘Winemaker of the Year’ by the Revue du Vin de France, the only French woman to have been so recognised.

Daniel Godefroy has been in charge of the vineyards of Domaine Jacques Prieur since 1997. Born into a winemaking family in the Loire’s Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil, he worked in Alsace for twelve years, five of which were spent at Domaine Zind-Humbrecht.

This page’s images © Domaine Jacques Prieur

2020 VINTAGE NOTES “A record-beating early season” NADINE GUBLIN, OCTOBER 2021

After an exceptionally mild winter (milder even than the record-setting previous winter) and good amounts of rain, vine growth was visible from the second half of March. The first signs of budburst were seen around 25th March, a record early start, beating that of 2017. Vegetative growth during April, May and June was described by Nadine Gublin as “rampant” and “dazzling”, thanks to warm, sunny weather and plentiful soil water reserves. The first flowers appeared from 12th May, following which flowering progressed very quickly, ending around 26th May. At the end of June, the bunches were ‘closed’, or fully formed. In July, although water supplies were running low, véraison began from the beginning of the month. Despite the absence of rain, the heatwaves in late July and mid-August, during which temperatures approached 40°C, further accelerated ripening. Harvest started on 20th August, with the Pinot Noir in Volnay and Beaune: a record early start, earlier even than 2003. Both the Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes were “perfectly healthy, with excellent maturity”, according to Nadine. She added, “The highlight of the 2020 season was the high level of acidity in the grapes, which was explained by a concentration [of acids] at the end the season, with a warm southerly wind and high temperatures.”

RED WINES

BEAUNE CHAMPS PIMONT 1ER CRU

GEVREY-CHAMBERTIN 1ER CRU

Pimont means the foot of the hills, from the same root as Italy’s ‘Piemonte’. A 2.06 hectare plot, part of which is being replanted. Substantial clay beneath thick soils. This tends to be the Beaune premier cru with the greatest ageing potential. 35% whole cluster this year – not intended originally but the destemmer broke so the remaining bunches had to stay! It has turned out well: fresh and spicy, with cool raspberry fruit and citric freshness. 30% new oak.

These are the young vines (more than 25 years old) of Chambertin Grand Cru, voluntarily declassified to premier cru status, from all five of the domaine’s parcels in Chambertin and Clos de Bèze. Spicy, ripe and darkfruited aromas, with a floral-minty lift. The palate is supple and fresh, with fabulous purity and dark rocky minerality. Loved this. 60% new oak. 100% destemmed.

Corney & Barrow Score 17+ Recommended drinking from 2026 - 2039

Corney & Barrow Score 18+ Recommended drinking from 2026 - 2036 £725/case of 6 bottles, in bond UK

£325/case of 6 bottles, in bond UK

BEAUNE 1ER CRU CLOS DE LA FÉGUINE MONOPOLE

VOLNAY 1ER CLOS DES SANTENOTS CRU MONOPOLE

This is a 1.59 hectare monopole premier cru within the pebbly Coucherias vineyard, beneath the wooded Montagne de Beaune. South-facing, on very thin, stony clay-limestone soil. 100% destemmed, to bring out the purity and natural perfume of this site. Sweet supple red berries, with crunchy freshness. Aged in 30% new oak.

These 30-70 year-old vines are in Santenots du Milieu, the central lieu-dit, with the most powerful expression of Santenots (and arguably of Volnay). For the first time this year, the younger vines have been included in the blend. Sweet, powerful aromas of raspberry and clove. The palate is cool and precise on the attack, with a primary raspberry fruited brightness and taut, powerful tannins. Nearly at the level of a grand cru here... 40% new oak, 100% destemmed.

Corney & Barrow Score 17 Recommended drinking from 2023 - 2033 £365/case of 6 bottles, in bond UK

Corney & Barrow Score 18 Recommended drinking from 2026 - 2040+ £775/case of 6 bottles, in bond UK

MEURSAULT ROUGE CLOS DE MAZERAY MONOPOLE This DJP monopole is mostly planted to Chardonnay, but there are 0.6 hectares of Pinot Noir in the centre, from which this wine is made. Exotic spice aromas leading into a fresh palate of dark berry and cherry fruit, framed by supple tannins. 50% whole bunch fermentation. Only two barrels were produced, both old oak. Corney & Barrow Score 17+ Recommended drinking from 2024 - 2030 £390/case of 6 bottles, in bond UK

CORTON-BRESSANDES GRAND CRU

ÉCHÉZEAUX GRAND CRU

The gently sloping Bressandes is one of the earliestmaturing Pinot Noir sites on the hill of Corton. This was the first site picked in 2020. Darkly fruited and elegantly spicy, this brings both refinement and opulence to the stony minerality of Corton. A powerful and generous wine. 35% whole-bunch fermented. 60% new oak.

0.4 hectares in the lieu-dit Les Champs Traversin, beside Grands-Échézeaux and perpendicular to the slope, the Combe d’Orveau’s breezes ensuring slow, steady ripening. Aromas of sweet spices, dark berries, stony minerality and liquorice. This is detailed and sappy, with a soaring herbal flamboyance. The palate’s freshness reflects the coolness of the site. 1996 was the first vintage – and Nadine says there has never been a weak year! 100% destemmed, 60% new oak.

Corney & Barrow Score 18 Recommended drinking from 2024 - 2036 £895/case of 6 bottles, in bond UK

Corney & Barrow Score 19 Recommended drinking from 2028 - 2040 £1,450/case of 3 bottles, in bond UK

CLOS DE VOUGEOT GRAND CRU

MUSIGNY GRAND CRU

This 1.28 hectare parcel lies at the heart of the large claybased Clos de Vougeot vineyard, just below the holding of Château de la Tour. Around 20% of the crop was once again barrel-fermented, without pressing the berries first. This has resulted in intense flavours of bright raspberries and red cherries, which complement the firm tannins of the Clos. Spherical and polished. 37% whole-bunch fermentation.

This 0.76 hectare parcel of nearly 50 year old vines is in the southern part of Les Petits Musigny, just above the Clos de Vougeot. Dark-fruited, peppery aromas, with finely detailed sweet spices. The palate is juicy and darkly berried, with an orange rind zestiness and rose petal aromatics reminding us that we are in Chambolle here. Power and elegance, magical. All destemmed, 60% new oak.

Corney & Barrow Score 18.5 Recommended drinking from 2028 - 2040+ £995/case of 6 bottles, in bond UK

CHAMBERTIN GRAND CRU 2020 is the final vintage to include the domaine’s holding in Chambertin-Clos de Bèze, as it was grubbed up in 2021. Multifaceted aromas of bitter cherries, blackberries, fine earthy minerality and sweet spices. The rich dark berry fruit of the palate is fine and driven, waves of energy delineated by intricate tannins. Wonderful. 60% new oak, all destemmed. Corney & Barrow Score 19 Recommended drinking from 2026 - 2040 £1,395/case of 3 bottles, in bond UK

Corney & Barrow Score 19+ Recommended drinking from 2029 - 2040 £2,075/case of 3 bottles, in bond UK

WHITE WINES “For an early harvest, I find this a very classical vintage for white wines” Nadine Gublin

BOURGOGNE CHARDONNAY

These vines, just under a hectare in total, are beside the domaine in Meursault, opposite Clos de la Barre. White peach and pear fruit, with zippy acidity and salty minerality. There is no lees stirring for the whites which, along with 2020’s crisp acidity, results in an appealing citric freshness. Corney & Barrow Score 17 Recommended drinking from 2022 - 2025 £175/case of 6 bottles, in bond UK

BEAUNE BLANC 1ER CRU CHAMPS PIMONT Champs Pimont is a 1.4 hectare holding, with a high proportion of white marl. Aromas of citrus and peach fruit, with smoky minerality. A fine stony, textured palate, whose salty precision on the entry opens onto an ample mid-palate of fleshy stone-fruit. Creamy and generous. Vinified in a mixture of 40% foudres and 60% barrels, with an average of 25% new oak. Corney & Barrow Score 17 Recommended drinking from 2023 - 2026 £285/case of 6 bottles, in bond UK

BEAUNE BLANC 1ER CRU GRÈVES

MEURSAULT 1ER CRU SANTENOTS BLANC

These are among the youngest of the domaine’s vines, planted in perhaps the greatest terroir of Beaune. This stony/gravelly half-hectare plot was planted in 2006; the first vintage released was 2009. Apricot-fruited and open, with a stony-mineral freshness and a chalky texture, taut and precise. Ageing in barrels, 25% new oak.

This is a 0.8 hectare site, next to Domaine Marquis d’Angerville’s plot. The domaine’s Santenots holdings were replanted from Pinot Noir to Chardonnay in the 1990s. The first white wine vintage was 2000. Limestone mineral tension is what I hope to find here and this delivers. Chalky and mineral-driven, with intense lime, lemon and quince. A wine of citric shape and acid curve in youth, which will age beautifully.

Corney & Barrow Score 17 Recommended drinking from 2023 - 2027 £325/case of 6 bottles, in bond UK

Corney & Barrow Score 18 Recommended drinking from 2024 - 2030 £450/case of 6 bottles, in bond UK

BEAUNE BLANC 1ER CRU CLOS DE LA FÉGUINE MONOPOLE

MEURSAULT 1ER CRU PERRIÈRES

Clos de la Féguine is a small parcel, a monopole of just 0.27 hectares, at the top of the slope, west of Grèves. White-grey, stony limestone soils – prime Chardonnay territory. These are nearly 30 year old vines. Fresh and zippy, saline and with fine white peach fruit – perfectly poised. 25% new oak.

The domaine’s holding in Perrières is a mere 0.3 hectares of three-decade-old vines. Chalky-lime aromas, with orange zest. The palate is powerful, rocky and hewn – intense flavours of citrus and stony minerality herald a wine of substance and energy. Majestically stark in this first flush of youth. Harvested 24th August, the first white to be picked. 30% new oak.

Corney & Barrow Score 17.5+ Recommended drinking from 2023 - 2027 £350/case of 6 bottles, in bond UK

MEURSAULT CLOS DE MAZERAY MONOPOLE The domaine’s only village holding is a special wine – a monopole, in sole ownership. It is almost three hectares in size: a good swathe of Meursault, in the centre of the appellation, just south of the village. Aromas of green apples, apricot and white flowers. The palate combines fleshy peach fruit and stony minerality. Vinified half in old foudres, half in barrel, with an overall total of 25% new oak. Corney & Barrow Score 17.5 Recommended drinking from 2023 - 2027 £350/case of 6 bottles, in bond UK

Corney & Barrow Score 19 Recommended drinking from 2025 - 2030 £950/case of 6 bottles, in bond UK

PULIGNY-MONTRACHET 1ER CRU COMBETTES

CHEVALIER-MONTRACHET GRAND CRU

DJP’s Combettes is made from a 1.49 hectare plot in this most majestic of the Puligny premiers crus. White peach aromas, fine and stony-mineral, with a fleshy amplitude on the palate, which is both powerful and elegant. Harvested 27th August. Nadine, checking her notes as we tasted, recalled with a smile these grapes’ perfect acidity on the day of harvest. 30% new oak.

A tiny 0.2 hectare holding of 50+ year-old vines, on the thin, stony upper slopes where Chevalier-Montrachet meets Le Montrachet. Aromas of flinty, struck-match minerality with white peach and apricot. The palate is taut and stony-mineral, that fine, chalky grip that Chevalier does so well lending texture and shape to the finish. Pure class. Two and a half barrels were produced.

Corney & Barrow Score 18.5 Recommended drinking from 2024 - 2030

Corney & Barrow Score 19 Recommended drinking from 2025 - 2030

£545/case of 6 bottles, in bond UK

£1,450/case of 3 bottles, in bond UK

CORTON-CHARLEMAGNE GRAND CRU

MONTRACHET GRAND CRU

Corton-Charlemagne is à part, both geographically (north of Beaune, on the Hill of Corton) and stylistically (linear, luminous and stony). DJP’s vines, in one parcel, are on the mineral-rich white marl soils of the high slopes, on the eastern side of the hill. This is a late ripening site and in 2020 was the last to be picked, on 2nd September. Dried herbs, hay and white pepper aromas. The palate’s white peach fruit and lemon rind is super-fresh, with chalky minerality and a salty finish.

Montrachet itself. The domaine has 0.6 hectares, in two plots, on the Chassagne side. A wine of supreme substance which you experience viscerally and somehow defies the usual thread of tasting notes. Density, matter, elegance and succulence come together in this most tactile of wines. 2020 will be a reference year for DJP’s whites and nowhere more so than here. Harvested 27th August, à point. 13% abv.

Corney & Barrow Score 18 Recommended drinking from 2025 - 2032 £1,650/case of 6 bottles, in bond UK

Corney & Barrow Score 18.5 - 19 Recommended drinking from 2025 - 2035 £2,275/case of 3 bottles, in bond UK

Tasting Guide Our tasting notes provide full details but, at your request, we have also introduced a clear and simple marking system. We hope these guidelines assist you in your selection. Wines are scored out of 20. Customers seem to like it and it has the benefit of simplicity. We will often use a range of scores (e.g. 16.5 to 17) to indicate the potential to achieve a higher mark. When a ‘+’ is shown it adds further to that potential. Wines from lesser vintages will, inevitably, show a lower overall score. Wines are judged, in a very broad sense, against their peers. Why? Well, you cannot easily compare a Ford with an Aston Martin, other than they are both cars and have wheels. It is not that different with wine. A score is a summary only. The devil is in the detail, so please focus on the tasting notes and, as always, speak to our sales team.

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