How do I order?
Wine Source bring you a first taste of the 2021 Burgundy En Primeur vintage from the stellar cellars of Philippe Pacalet.
Read on for valuable insights and thoughts from this engaging and seasoned winemaker, but first, a glimpse of his inaugural 2021 release.
Please be mindful this release is a challenge to allocate – demand for Philippe Pacalet’s wine far outstrips supply, made even more arduous with the tiny yields in 2021.
Simply click on a Request your 2021 Allocation button to view Pacalet’s 2021 Burgundy En Primeur release and submit your preferred selection.
We will confirm orders promptly, subject to availability; and for unfulfilled requests, will do our very best to negotiate further allocations in the coming weeks on your behalf.
We very much look forward to hearing from you.
Thank you,
From all the Wine Source Team
THE WHITE CUVÉES
PRICES IN BOND
SUBJECT TO AVAILABILITY
– We request balanced orders only, please –
Village
2021 Ladoix Blanc
£810
per case of 12 x 75cl
Premier Cru
2021 Chablis 1er Cru “Beauroy”
£930
per case of 12 x 75cl
Grand Cru
2021 Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru
£1,980
per case of 6 x 75cl
THE RED CUVÉES
PRICES IN BOND
SUBJECT TO AVAILABILITY
– We request balanced orders only, please –
Village
2021 Ladoix Rouge
£780
per case of 12 x 75cl
2021 Gevrey Chambertin
£900
per case of 12 x 75cl
2021 Pommard
£900
per case of 12 x 75cl
Premier Cru
2021 Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru
“Aux Argillas”
£780
per case of 6 x 75cl
Grand Cru
2021 Corton-Bressandes Grand Cru
£1,560
per case of 6 x 75cl
–
FURTHER TO THE 2021 PHILIPPE PACALET CUVÉES OFFERED ABOVE, PLEASE ENQUIRE DIRECTLY TO COMMUNICATE YOUR INTEREST IN THE FOLLOWING PACALET CUVÉES, AVAILABLE IN EXTREMELY LIMITED QUANTITIES ONLY
THE WHITE CUVÉES
2021 Meursault
2021 Meursault “Limozin”
2021 Meursault 1er Cru “Charmes”
THE RED CUVÉES
2021 Vosne-Romanée
2021 Ladoix 1er Cru “Les Joyeuses”
2021 Aloxe-Corton 1er Cru
2021 Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru “Les Lavrottes”
2021 Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru “Les Sentiers”
2021 Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru “Bel-Air”
2021 Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru “Les Corbeaux”
2021 Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru “Petite Chapelle”
2021 Pommard 1er Cru “Les Charmots”
2021 Pommard 1er Cru “Les Epenots”
2021 Volnay 1er Cru “Robardelle”
2021 Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru “Les Chaumes”
2021 Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru
2021 Echezeaux Grand Cru
TERMS & CONDITIONS
All wines are offered in bond, subject to remaining unsold & final confirmation, E. & O.E.
Please note that our en primeur and in bond GBP prices exclude VAT and Duty but include shipping from the producers to our UK warehouse.
Payment is kindly required on invoice so to secure reservation.
Estimated stock arrival from the Domaine: Autumn 2023
Limited quantities are available
The 2021 Vintage
PHILIPPE PACALET
The Vintage and the Harvest
The 2021 harvest at Maison Pacalet began on September 20th and finished on October 2nd. This vintage takes its place in history for producing one of the lowest ever yields; for reds yes, but even more so for whites!
Very fast flowering
After the historic frost in April, the vines took some time to resume the course of their cycle, especially as May was cooler and wetter than normal. Fortunately, temperatures returned to seasonal norms in early June. They even “soared” from June 8th, peaking happily above average.
Flowering then commenced very quickly, thanks to the hot and dry weather, offering ideal conditions for pollination and the formation of future fruits. The estimated dates for the mid-flowering stage (50% flowers open) were close to those observed in 2019: between June 14th, for Gamay at Moulin à Vent, and June 18th, for Pinot Noir in the Côte de Nuits. Although the pace was rapid, fruiting was heterogeneous in the vineyards depending on the extent of frost damage.
The continuation of high temperatures then caused vegetation to continue at pace, providing in part, compensation for the delay from April and May. In the end, the first semester presented temperatures and precipitation in line with seasonal average.
Optimal fruiting marked by frost
From the end of June to the beginning of August, weather conditions changed due to rain. As vines grew quickly, considerable and delicate work was done in the vineyards to manage green growth and counter the pressure of disease. We had to wait until mid-August to find dry weather again.
The mid-veraison stage, when berries change colour, was reached in mid-August on average. The dry weather and the north wind allowed the grapes to ripen gradually, while chasing away the humidity that was conducive to disease.
For once, red grape varieties were the most advanced in maturity. We started the harvest in the red plots from Côte de Beaune and Moulin à Vent to exploit the aromatic maturity of their grapes.
Chardonnay took a little more time to mature due to the stress caused by the April frost. It was harvested later than the reds in the same area, but before the Pinot noir plots from Côte de Nuits.
Leaning towards a typical Burgundian vintage
Overall, yields were very heterogeneous. We had to contend with low harvest volumes, EXTREMELY low from those plots that were most affected by the frost. The relatively spared plots, however, offered a somewhat more generous crop.
The aromatic potential of the different musts is there; fermentation dynamics are good and sugar-acid balances offer those typical features that are highly appreciated by Burgundy wine lovers.
2021 is shaping up to be a rather classic Burgundian vintage, as ripening took place in cooler weather conditions versus recent vintages. Its profile can be set between 2016 and 2017 vintages. It is also a historically low yield year.
White Winemaking
For whites, the act of treading grapes makes pressing easier. It also increases the extraction of phenolic compounds coming from the skin and the stems of whole bunches. This operation triggers the development of microorganisms (natural yeasts) by releasing juice from the grapes.
We use mechanical plate presses which are very interesting for yeast development, as they produce musts that are richer in nutrients. Pressing time was quite long – 6 hours in average. Juice settling lasted 12 hours maximum without temperature control in order to avoid selecting wild yeasts, which are so important to translate the richness of each terroir.
Red Winemaking
For the reds, we had good lignification of the pips, presenting a potential maturity around 12.5%. Tannins became ripe with maturation, but it is the handling of the grapes in the winery that determines their quality above all. Manual vatting as soon as they arrive in the winery is essential to preserve the integrity of the grape clusters.
After 5 days of maceration in whole bunches, fermentation began and lasted around 14 days. One daily “pigeage” per day allowed a gentle and longer maceration, without thermoregulation. This procedure allowed natural yeasts to work and thrive in the best conditions.
Pretty colours, beautiful aromas, elegant and gourmet wines already sum up this vintage.
New to the fold
Despite the limited yields, the 2021 vintage brings inaugural cuvées which we are proud to announce. The first production from the following plots…
Meursault “Limozin”
40 year old Chardonnay vines with a South-Western exposure from three landlocked plots in the Meursault 1er cru “Genevrières”. This wine is very special; that’s why we decided to isolate and bottle it under its climat name. It is rich, complex and delicious, and already in youth reveals exceptional potential to age and develop.
Bâtard Montrachet Grand Cru
40-year-old Chardonnay vines; it is the King of white Burgundy. Exposed to the South / South-East on brown soils rich in limestone and thick clay, the Bâtard Montrachet is a brilliant wine with a light golden hue and green reflections. A complex nose shows toasted notes in youth, associated with citrus and dried fruit aromas. The palate brings a powerful, rich density – balanced with a racy, generous and lively acidity, tempered by exceptional finesse and elegance on the finish.
Volnay 1er cru “Robardelle”
50-year-old vines on clay-limestone Bathonian soil with a layer of iron oolites. This plot is exposed to the South-East. This ruby coloured wine presents lovely fruity (raspberries, cherries) and floral (rosehip) scents. It is fleshy, elegant and gourmand with an impressive and beautiful depth.
Worth knowing…
Due to the very small quantities of the two Monthélie Premier Crus, “Clos Gauthey” and “Château Gaillard”, this year they were blended into a single cuvée.
Some plots were not spared by frost, and therefore the following wines were not produced in 2021:
Chassagne-Montrachet
Chassagne-Montrachet 1er cru “Morgeot”
Meursault 1ers crus “Genevrières” & “Perrières”
St. Aubin 1er cru “Murgers des Dents de Chien”
Chambolle Musigny
Other plots were partially affected, seriously limiting the quantities available. This is the case of Meursault, Puligny-Montrachet, Nuits St. Georges village, as well as the Moulin à Vent.
Philippe Pacalet concludes his vintage report “Thank you for your fidelity and trust”. At Wine Source we echo his sentiments; having deep respect for his instincts in the vineyard and cellar we hope you will enjoy exploring the 2021 vintage of Pacalet’s efforts and secure your allocation promptly. As mentioned the yields this year are challenging, to put it politely.
The 2021 Vintage
Cool-climate Burgundy, if you’re fortunate to find any
The 2021s are a new enthralling chapter in the Burgundy adventure. This vintage offers wines with supreme balance, insane purity and a scintillating freshness. Cool-climate and balanced at its best.
Just one elephant to discuss. A growing season like no other. Stylistically it signals a welcome return to classicism across the region. It is likely that the 2021 vintage will bring great joy to Burgundy purists, the cooler-than-usual growing season failed to force high alcohol levels – as has been the case in recent years – leaving instead an arguably more refined style. However, as yields were so tiny, for those with a penchant for cool-climate Burgundy, to secure the best examples, be ready to act quick.
In 2021, the defining point arrived following three nights of devastating frost in early April robbing many producers of up to 80% potential 2021 crop. It hit many of the more prestigious vineyards: better placed and warmer sites were naturally more advanced in their budding than vines in the cooler areas and on the plains and lower slopes.
Temperatures went as low as -7°C and almost all forms of frost protection were rendered useless. Wind turbines and helicopters found no warm air to circulate, and candles, whilst offering some protection, cost around €4,000 per hectare, making them a realistic option for wealthier domaines only. Even then, availability of the candles in sufficient volume was difficult to source.
The problem was further compounded by snow on a second night of cold weather, accentuating cold and freeze. When the sun finally did come out, the ice around the buds acted as a magnifying glass, scorching many of the remaining buds that had not yet been touched.
Overall, it is likely that the 2021 vintage for Burgundy will be far more a vintage for reds than for whites as yields for whites were heavily reduced – although yields for reds were not high either. The quality of what was made, however, is said to be very good.
