Armand Heitz : Meursault 1er cru "Blagny" 2022

Characteristics and tasting advice for the Meursault 1er Cru "Blagny" 2022 from Armand Heitz

Tasting

Appearance

The wine reveals a pale yellow color with golden reflections.

Nose

Delicate and refined, the nose reveals aromas of white flowers, lime zest and tangy green apple, accompanied by notes of white peach. A characteristic mineral imprint gradually emerges.

Palate

On the palate, this wine expresses remarkable mineral and saline tension, supported by a sleek and precise structure. The wine’s linearity asserts itself without heaviness, with a crystalline texture and invigorating freshness. The exceptionally long finish lingers on saline mineral notes and fine acidity that promises excellent development in the cellar.

Food and wine pairings

This Meursault 1er Cru pairs ideally with delicate fish such as herb-roasted sea bass with parsnip purée, pan-seared scallops with cauliflower mousseline, or Bresse chicken with cream and morels. It also pairs perfectly with slow-cooked veal with chanterelles served with creamy polenta, as well as aged cheeses such as Brillat-Savarin, Reblochon, Comté or Chaource.

Service and cellaring

The Meursault 1er Cru "Blagny" 2022 is ideally served at a temperature of 10-12°C. This wine has cellaring potential until around 2032-2037, allowing it to gradually develop its aromatic complexity and mineral depth.

A Meursault 1er Cru combining crystalline minerality and environmental commitment in Burgundy

The estate

Founded in 2011 by Armand Heitz in Chassagne-Montrachet, the estate now covers around 23 hectares in Côte de Beaune. Armand Heitz, a wine engineer trained at the Changins school in Switzerland, has rebuilt a century-old family winegrowing heritage while adopting a forward-thinking philosophy. The estate stands out for its regenerative agronomic practices, its refusal of formal certifications in favor of sound agronomic common sense, and its commitment to biodiversity. Beyond viticulture, Armand Heitz has developed an integrated agricultural ecosystem including cattle and sheep farming, cereal crops and a permaculture garden, embodying a holistic vision of sustainable agriculture in Burgundy.

The vineyard

The Climat of Blagny, located at around 400 meters in altitude on the border between Meursault and Puligny-Montrachet, is one of the highest terroirs in the region. The plot of around half a hectare cultivated by Armand Heitz lies on thin soils composed of marls covered with very stony limestone scree, with a subsoil rich in marine fossils. This particular geology, where the hard Comblanchien limestone reappears in a characteristic form, gives the wine its distinctive mineral signature and pronounced salinity. Already cultivated in the 12th century by the Cistercian monks of Cîteaux, this historic terroir benefits from cool thermal conditions that favor the expression of acidity and minerality.

The vintage

The 2022 vintage in Burgundy stands out for its exceptional quality. After a start to the year marked by contrasting weather conditions with frost, heatwaves and drought, late budbreak protected the vineyard from spring damage. The vines endured four heatwaves and widespread drought with remarkable resilience, benefiting from the subtle interaction between terroir and plant life. The 2022 white wines are characterized by their roundness, suppleness and aromatic complexity, offering rich fruit while retaining welcome freshness. Chardonnay reached very fine early ripeness with notable aromatic complexity, producing rich and highly aromatic wines without tipping into excessive overripeness.

Vinification and aging

The Meursault 1er Cru "Blagny" 2022 was vinified using a minimalist, non-interventionist approach. The grapes, harvested by hand in small crates, were pressed entirely as whole clusters. After pneumatic pressing, the must was cooled and then settled for 24 hours. Alcoholic fermentation and malolactic fermentation took place in oak barrels, with a maximum of 30% new barrels, thus preserving the expression of the fruit and the terroir. Barrel aging continued for 12 months, followed by an additional 4 to 6 months of maturation in stainless steel tanks before bottling at the estate.

Grape variety

100% chardonnay