Bouchard Père & Fils Meursault Premier Cru "Les Bouchères" Domaine 2022

Bouchard Père & Fils, Les Bouchères 2022: An Exclusive Meursault Premier Cru

Classified among the “Têtes de cuvée” as early as 1855 by Dr. Lavalle, the Les Bouchères vineyard occupies a discreet yet historically recognized position on the Meursault hillside, above Porusot. Bouchard Père & Fils cultivates 38 ares here out of a total of 4.41 hectares in production—a modest footprint that contributes to the exclusive nature of this cuvée. The 2022 vintage, which was sunny and early in Burgundy, has yielded a silky expression here, driven by fruity ripeness that is supported—without excess—by the terroir’s natural acidity.

Tasting Les Bouchères 2022: Profile, Pairings, and peak drinking window

The Tasting

The color is a pale gold with slightly green highlights, showing beautiful luminosity for a two-year-old white wine. The bouquet, rich and expressive from the moment it’s opened, offers aromas of fresh hazelnut, golden brioche, and white-fleshed fruits, with a hint of almond emerging in the background as it breathes. On the palate, the attack is full-bodied and supple, with an enveloping texture that recalls the proximity of this vineyard’s subsoil to that of Les Genevrières. The mid-palate develops a natural roundness, supported by a crisp acidity that provides structure without harshness. The briny finish concludes with notes of toasted hazelnut and candied citrus, persistent and distinct, resulting in a full-bodied white that is never heavy.

• Grape variety: 100% Chardonnay
• Vineyard: Les Bouchères (Premier Cru, Meursault)
• Area cultivated by Bouchard Père & Fils: 38 ares
• Total area of the climat: 4.41 hectares in production
• Alcohol content: 13.5% vol
• Ageing: 9 to 10 months in French oak barrels, including up to 15% new oak, followed by 3 to 4 months in stainless steel tanks

Food and Wine Pairings

The full-bodied texture and lingering finish of this Meursault Premier Cru naturally call for a beautiful grilled line-caught fish, simply served with a beurre blanc sauce, or seared scallops, whose delicate briny notes complement the wine’s roundness. For a more elaborate pairing, cream-braised poultry with wild mushrooms or pan-seared veal sweetbreads will find a worthy partner in Les Bouchères 2022, as the richness of the dish balances with the Chardonnay’s structuring acidity.

Aging Potential

This white wine can be enjoyed right now, as its already open texture and expressive fruit make it perfectly ready to drink. However, it will continue to evolve favorably over the next five to seven years, or even longer depending on cellar conditions. This aging potential stems from the crisp acidity of the marl-limestone terroir of Les Bouchères and the skillful ageing, which has preserved the aromatic freshness without overwhelming the wine’s body. To get the most out of it, open the bottle an hour before serving or decant briefly: the bouquet will gain complexity and the toasty notes will integrate more fully.

From the Meursault hillside to the barrel: the making of Les Bouchères 2022

The Vintage in the Vineyard

The 2022 vintage in Burgundy was marked by a dry winter followed by an early spring, exposing the vines to a risk of late frost in April—fortunately limited on the Meursault hillside. The summer, which was hot and dry, accelerated the ripening of the Chardonnay, leading to a particularly early harvest. At Les Bouchères, the limestone and marl subsoil—similar to that of the neighboring Genevrières—played a regulating role by providing sufficient water reserves to preserve the fruit’s freshness despite the summer drought. The harvest was conducted by hand, using small 13-kg crates, with careful sorting of the clusters in the vineyard.

Work in the Winery

At Bouchard Père & Fils, pressing is carried out in two stages: separation of the free-run juice, followed by a slow cycle lasting about two hours to extract the press juice while preserving the integrity of the grapes. Ageing takes place in French oak barrels, with the proportion of new oak adjusted according to the vintage, before blending in stainless steel tanks. The wine is then aged in the historic cellars of the Bastions of the former Château de Beaune, where constant temperature and humidity ensure slow and consistent aging, in keeping with the tradition of the House’s great white wines.