Meursault Vieillis Vignes 2005 by Domaine Guy Bocard is a wonderful Meursault that shows what chardonnay can do when it's treated properly. An extended period of barrel aging gives this wine lovely balance. Flower and grass aromas are rounded out with creamy peach and apricot flavors, and underscored with citrus and tropical fruit flavors. The subtle use of oak provides an almost creamy finish with a tiny bit of nuttiness about it. The silky smooth texture will coat your mouth with the buttery feel that Meursault Vieillis Vignes from France is famous for. 2005 was a wonderful year for this collectors wine and the 93 points rating from Wine News prove it. Drink now through 2024. Only 3,000 bottles produced.

A specialist in that most popular of varietals, Chardonnay, Domaine Guy Bocard is not merely trying to make the best possible Chardonnay, but great Meursault. For Guy Bocard, the domaine's owner, Meursault is strictly made from vines within the commune of Meursault. "If you can taste the oak then I've used too much", is his motto. He compares oak to sale,where new oak is like salt in great cuisine, a subtle enhancer of flavor rather than its dominant profile. Substantial parcels of 75-year-old vines planted by his grandfather add to the intensity of the fruit. After picking, the grapes are rushed to the cellar for a gentle pneumatic press, then drained into oak barrels for their alcoholic and malolactic fermentation. Guy Bocard keeps the wine on its lees for as long as possible, without stirring the fine lees, in order to prolong the malolactic, protect the wine from oxidation and nourish the wine as it marries with the oak. Bottling is 12 to 15 months after the harvest, giving a wine that is drinkable upon release, yet still has that telltale Meursault tang. The end result of long malolactic fermentation, extended barrel aging and late bottling is Bocard Vieillis Vignes 2005 Vintage. A memorable drinking experience is guaranteed.

RATINGS: 93 Points - Vin Cellar
"Yellow gold in color. Low rim variation. Slow legs. Pineapple, Melon. Grapefruit. Medium/Full bodied. Polished texture. Medium finish."

93 Points - Wine News
"Fresh-sliced lemon aromas with a cucumber accent. Creamy, white frosting-like sweetness tempered by fresh acids and minerals. Youthful, dry close; could use a little more bottle age."