Wine Advisor
Domaine Roulot, Meursault Les Vireuils 2010
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
The Meursault les Vireuils ’10 possesses a show-stopping bouquet that is more reminiscent of say, a Puligny Cailleret, its rich precocious fruit not obfuscating its granitic personality. There is astonishing clarity on the palate that is delicate and pretty, subtle citrus and peach on the entry that segues into a more terse, slate-like finish. This is an outstanding Meursault that should evolve beautifully over the next 10 to 15 years. Tasted March 2013.
Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni
The 2010 Meursault Les Vireuils is quite open in this vintage. There is a level of richness in the fruit that is quite unusual for Vireuils. At the same time, the finish is a bit attenuated. White stone fruits, pears, flowers, smoke and slate flow through to the finish. I find a bit less energy than is typically the case. Anticipated maturity: 2013+. (Not yet released) Jean-Marc Roulot commented that 2010 was easy in the vineyard but not so simple in the cellar, mostly because of very long malolactic fermentations that did not finish until the following August! The harvest started on September 17 and the wines came in with 12.8 -13.5 natural alcohols, which is at the higher end of the range for the domaine. Because of the lengthy malos, the 2010s were bottled a little later than normal. The 2010s are quite representative of the year in that they have considerable richness and at the same time high acidities. They are remarkably vivid, expressive to site and flat-out gorgeous. Readers will notice a new wine in 2010, the Auxey-Duresses, and can look forward to a new Clos de la Baronne and Clos des Boucheres with the 2011 vintage. Roulot fans will also want to be on the look out for Jean-Marc Roulot’s new line of eau de vies, an old family tradition that goes back many generations. The Framboise is one of the most pure expressions of fruit I have ever tasted, while the Abricot, made from Gerard and Jean-Louis Chave’s organically grown apricots in St. Joseph, is a bit more honeyed and liqueur-like.Unfortunately, my bottle of the Poire eau de vie broke, but I hope to be able to taste it soon. Importer: Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant, Berkeley, CA; tel. (510) 524-1524
Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni
The 2010 Meursault Les Vireuils is quite open in this vintage. There is a level of richness in the fruit that is quite unusual for Vireuils. At the same time, the finish is a bit attenuated. White stone fruits, pears, flowers, smoke and slate flow through to the finish. I find a bit less energy than is typically the case.
Reviewed by: Stephen Tanzer
(these vines were harvested late, according to Roulot): Subtle citrussy nose. At once tactile and juicy, with excellent mineral spine to support the lemon and pineapple flavors. The very long, stony finish shows the combination of sweetness and energy of the vintage's better examples.
About the Producer
Domaine Roulot, founded by Guillaume Roulot in 1830, is well respected Meursault-based domaine producing mainly Chardonnay wines from a range of premier cru and village-level sites across the appellation. The wines are held in high esteem by critics and are much sought-after. The domaine is currently run by actor-turned-winemaker Jean-Marc Roulot. Roulot has numerous holdings across Meursault premiers crus, including 0.28 hectares (0.69 acres) in Charmes, 0.26 hectares (0.64 acres) in Perrières and 0.16 hectares (0.39 acres) in Les Bouchères, as well as 0.2 hectares (0.5 acres) in neighboring Monthélie Premier Cru Les Champs Fulliots. A further four hectares (ten acres) cover village-level vineyards in Meusault such as Les Luchets and Les Tessons Clos de Mon Plaisir – a wine strongly associated with the Roulot label. All are Chardonnay based wines, although the domaine also produces an Aligoté, a Bourgogne Blanc and Rouge, an Auxey-Duresses Premier Cru, and a village-level red. The red wines are made from Pinot Noir – Burgundy's key red grape variety. Domaine Roulot established itself in the upper echelon of white Burgundy producers under the late Guy Roulot. Guy was one of the first producers of the region to bottle single vineyards separately, including village lieux-dits. He died in 1982 and his son Jean-Marc took over in 1989, farming the vineyards organically. As well as winemaking, Jean-Marc Roulot is also known for his cinematographic appearances (he initially studied screen acting in Paris), including the Burgundy-based coming-of-age film Ce Qui Nous Lie (released as "Back to Burgundy" for anglophone audiences), parts of which were filmed at the domaine
