Méo-Camuzet is one of the undisputed star estates of
Burgundy. Until 1988 most of the domaine`s holdings were leased out to other vignerons and amazingly most of the wine was sold off to négociants in bulk. Today, it is a very different story.
Meo Camuzet now has over 2.5 hectares of grands Crus and 8 hectares of some of the finest Premier Cru vineyards of Nuits-St-Georges and Vosne-Romanée. Most of the vineyards are farmed organically, but not every aspect of all vineyards: one or two which are difficult for tractor access may still see an occasional herbicide or anti-rot treatment.
The grapes are sorted at the winery, destemmed, cooled if need be to 15°C for a short pre-fermentation maceration, and then spend around 18 days in vat in total,, with temperatures being maintained around 30-32°C. Early on the juice is pumped over twice a day with some pumping down subsequently. Afterwards, the wines are matured in barrel, with 50% of new wood for the major villages, 60-70% for the premiers crus and 100% for the grands crus. Possibly a little less new wood may be used in the future, and Jean-Nicolas has certainly refined his choice of wood in recent years, while retaining François Frères as more or less sole supplier.
Jean-Nicolas Méo and Christian Faurois now run the Domaine and together they produce some of the very best wine in the Côte d'Or. Meo Camuzet produces full-bodied, firm, rich, oaky, concentrated wines, which no serious Burgundy drinker should overlook.
Richebourg 0.34 ha
Clos de Vougeot 3.03 ha
Corton Clos Rognet 0.45 ha
Echezeaux 0.44 ha
Vosne Romanée 1er cru Les Brûlées 0.72 ha
Vosne Romanée 1er cru Cros Parantoux 0.295 ha
Vosne Romanée 1er cru Les Chaumes 2.02 ha
Nuits St Georges 1er cru Aux Boudots 1.05 ha
Nuits St Georges 1er cru Aux Murgers 0.73 ha
Nuits St Georges Bas de Combe 0.58 ha
Vosne Romanée 1.38 ha
Richebourg
Situated at the top of Les Verroilles, which catches the late evening rays of sunshine. This is a wine of discretion and finesse rather than sumptuous weight. It needs time to display its full range of flavours.
Clos de Vougeot
The vast majority of this holding comes from Les Chioures, adjacent to the Château itself, purchased by Etienne Camuzet when he bought the Château buildings in 1920. There is a small slice as well in Grand Maupertuis. Clos Vougeot can be on the chunky side and Méo-Camuzet wines certainly have their structure, but this is a remarkably elegant Clos de Vougeot
Corton, Clos Rognet
The Clos is indeed surrounded by dry stone walls as it should be. This is a powerful Corton from 80 year old vines. A notably tannic structure however is more than matched by the volume of fruit.
Echezeaux
Situated at the top of Les Rouges du Bas, so a strikingly mineral Echezeaux. The fruit ripens easily enough, but the acidity is maintained. An Echezeaux built on finesse rather than power.
Vosne Romanée 1er cru Les Brûlées
On the southern flank of Les Brûlées, thus exposed due east. There is a terrific density of fruit to this wine, a wonderful rich mouthful with a silky texture. A wine with a fabulously sunny disposition, easy to appreciate in youth.
Vosne Romanée 1er cru Cros Parantoux
This wine is invested in a sense of magic thanks to the Henri Jayer legend. It deserves it still in the hands of his successors. The bouquet is amazingly intense with the dramatic, lifted niotes which characterise Vosne Romanée. It is much more obviously a hillside wine than Les Brûlées, almost severe in its youth, before ageing very slowly into a marvellously complex old wine.
