Domaine Jacques Prieur : Echezeaux Grand cru 2019

Characteristics and Tasting Notes for the Echezeaux Grand Cru 2019 from Domaine Jacques Prieur

Tasting

Color

The Echezeaux Grand Cru 2019 shows a deep, dark robe with intense ruby-to-black hues, a reflection of the low yields and concentrated fruit of the vintage.

Nose

The nose opens on black fruit aromas, with blackcurrant and blueberry at the forefront, framed by airy floral notes and a touch of pepper that echoes the cool, well-ventilated character of the Champs Traversins climat.

Palate

The palate is juicy from the attack, with spicy and peppery accents running through the mid-palate. The tannins are fresh rather than heavy, and the finish is sapid, carried by a sense of tension and energy rather than sheer power.

Food and wine pairings

The Echezeaux Grand Cru 2019 pairs naturally with roasted or glazed poultry such as chicken or guinea fowl, as well as with duck and veal dishes built around reduced jus or mushroom-based preparations. It also suits lean cuts of beef served rare to medium, and can extend to refined Mediterranean dishes such as lamb with herbs, provided the seasoning stays measured so as not to overwhelm the wine's finesse.

Serving and cellaring

The Echezeaux Grand Cru 2019 is best served slightly below standard red wine temperature, around 15 to 17°C, in order to preserve its freshness and tension. A short decanting of one to two hours before service can help soften the tannins and open up the aromatic range, particularly while the wine is still young. A large-bowled Burgundy glass is recommended to let the floral and spicy notes fully express themselves. Thanks to its fresh tannins and lively acidity, this grand cru is built to evolve gracefully over time in the cellar.

A Côte de Nuits Echezeaux Shaped by a Cool, Well-Ventilated Climate

The Estate

Domaine Jacques Prieur took its name in 1956, built on a vineyard heritage assembled from Meursault to the Côte de Nuits since the late 19th century. Based in Meursault, Burgundy, the estate today farms 21 hectares split almost evenly between pinot noir and chardonnay, with holdings across close to a third of Burgundy's grand cru appellations. It is now led by the Labruyère family, majority owners since the late 1980s, alongside the historic Prieur heirs, and has recently obtained organic certification for its vineyards.

The Vineyard

The domaine's Echezeaux comes from the Champs Traversins lieu-dit, located in the historic heart of the Echezeaux grand cru in Flagey-Echézeaux, between Vougeot and Vosne-Romanée. The rows run north to south at the edge of the Combe d'Orveau, a lateral valley that channels cool air across the parcel and keeps it well ventilated and healthy. The soil is shallow and brown, topped with a fine, sandy and siliceous scree that favors good drainage and balanced ripening.

The Vintage

The 2019 growing season in Burgundy combined a spring frost episode with an extended flowering period, followed by high temperatures at fruit set and a dry summer. These conditions led to naturally reduced yields. Given the healthy state of the fruit and its sugar and phenolic maturity, harvest for this parcel began on September 9, earlier than initially planned, resulting in grapes with a notably balanced ratio of sugar and acidity.

Winemaking and aging

For the Echezeaux Grand Cru 2019, grapes were hand-harvested, sorted, and fully destemmed before a 21-day maceration in open, temperature-controlled wooden vats, with two punch-downs performed daily during fermentation. Malolactic fermentation was carried out in full, and the wine was then aged for 21 months entirely in oak barrels.

Grape Variety

The Echezeaux Grand Cru 2019 is produced from 100% pinot noir.