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Customers may recognise Pierre and Louis Trapet from our Domaine Trapet releases, as the sons of Jean-Louis and Andrée Trapet. Both have been central to the evolution of the family domaines in Alsace and Gevrey-Chambertin. The new Domaine Pierre & Louis Trapet will add two hectares of vines from the Côte de Beaune to the family holdings, which was formerly owned by the Bonnetain estate that was acquired via Louis’s wife Justine.  

At the heart of this new domaine is an unwavering determination to render the best possible expression of each climat, drawing on the very best viticultural and winemaking techniques that have been honed on the family’s home turf of Gevrey-Chambertin and Alsace.  

There is a delightfully daring streak in the Trapet family. Whether it is Jean-Louis’s conversion to biodynamics back in 1997 (when it was far from popular), or Pierre and Louis’s decision to trellis large parts of the domaine’s vineyards on single poles, or échalas, this is a family where the quest for quality never ends. Quantities in 2020 and 2021 are small, but there is more to come so do follow closely! 

Neville Kirkpatrick
Fine Wine Sales
October 2024

INTRODUCTION

Domaine Trapet

Pierre and Louis Trapet

Customers may recognise Pierre and Louis Trapet from our Domaine Trapet releases, as the sons of Jean-Louis and Andrée Trapet. Both have been central to the evolution of the family domaines in Alsace and Gevrey-Chambertin. The new Domaine Pierre & Louis Trapet will add two hectares of vines from the Côte de Beaune to the family holdings, which was formerly owned by the Bonnetain estate that was acquired via Louis’s wife Justine.  

At the heart of this new domaine is an unwavering determination to render the best possible expression of each climat, drawing on the very best viticultural and winemaking techniques that have been honed on the family’s home turf of Gevrey-Chambertin and Alsace.  

There is a delightfully daring streak in the Trapet family. Whether it is Jean-Louis’s conversion to biodynamics back in 1997 (when it was far from popular), or Pierre and Louis’s decision to trellis large parts of the domaine’s vineyards on single poles, or échalas, this is a family where the quest for quality never ends. Quantities in 2020 and 2021 are small, but there is more to come so do follow closely! 

2020 Vintage

The winter of 2019 was wet and mild, with water tables being sufficiently topped up following the hot summer that came before. As the new year began, the vines were progressing with real vigour, with the first buds becoming visible as early as the beginning of February. Apart from the occasional shower (which was very welcome) April and May were warm and flowering and fruit set began without a hitch. No pressure from powdery or downy mildew, everything seemed to be going very well indeed. June was a nervy time for the new project as storms passed over Meursault, but thankfully the impact was minimal. Véraison commenced in early July, with there being almost double the total hours of sunshine in the month than normal. Work schedules had to be re-organised to start earlier as the heatwave that began on the 19th of July made it impossible to work the vineyards during the heat of the day. The vineyards were refreshed on the 22nd August with a brief shower and picking began on the 26th of August in the Côte de Beaune. Wines of outstanding elegance and texture were produced, demonstrating with real clarity that 2020 is a vintage of superb quality for both red and white.

2021 Vintage

The story of the 2021 vintage maybe familiar, but such a challenging vintage can be felt especially acutely for newly established domaines. Although frost was the ultimate challenge, it was a heatwave in late March that set the scene for the disaster to come. The warmth brought on by this episode revealed the vines first buds, that opened and emerged far too early in the season. The team set to work trying to slow the pace of growth with one week of relentless pruning work. As was seen in Pierre and Louis's new plot on Meursault ‘Les Vireuils’, for example, the small buds were protected by their cotton envelope and only emerged ten days after the frost. This simple method, well known in times past, is one of the ways of combatting spring frosts, which are unfortunately more and more frequent. However, when the 6th of April came, with temperatures dropping to -8°C for 3 nights in a row, it became clear that the damage was very severe in the Côte de Beaune. The summer too provided little respite, with several storms battering the vineyards in early July, it was only until mid-August that the summer truly took hold with an extended period of warm weather.

VINTAGES

VINTAGES

Vintages

2020 Vintage

The winter of 2019 was wet and mild, with water tables being sufficiently topped up following the hot summer that came before. As the new year began, the vines were progressing with real vigour, with the first buds becoming visible as early as the beginning of February. Apart from the occasional shower (which was very welcome) April and May were warm and flowering and fruit set began without a hitch. No pressure from powdery or downy mildew, everything seemed to be going very well indeed.  

June was a nervy time for the new project as storms passed over Meursault, but thankfully the impact was minimal. Véraison commenced in early July, with there being almost double the total hours of sunshine in the month than normal. Work schedules had to be re-organised to start earlier as the heatwave that began on the 19th of July made it impossible to work the vineyards during the heat of the day. The vineyards were refreshed on the 22nd August with a brief shower and picking began on the 26th of August in the Côte de Beaune. Wines of outstanding elegance and texture were produced, demonstrating with real clarity that 2020 is a vintage of superb quality for both red and white.

2021 Vintage

The story of the 2021 vintage maybe familiar, but such a challenging vintage can be felt especially acutely for newly established domaines. Although frost was the ultimate challenge, it was a heatwave in late March that set the scene for the disaster to come. The warmth brought on by this episode revealed the vines first buds, that opened and emerged far too early in the season. The team set to work trying to slow the pace of growth with one week of relentless pruning work. As was seen in Pierre and Louis' new plot on Meursault ‘Les Vireuils’, for example, the small buds were protected by their cotton envelope and only emerged ten days after the frost. This simple method, well known in times past, is one of the ways of combatting spring frosts, which are unfortunately more and more frequent. However, when the 6th of April came, with temperatures dropping to -8°C for 3 nights in a row, it became clear that the damage was very severe in the Côte de Beaune. The summer too provided little respite, with several storms battering the vineyards in early July, it was only until mid-August that the summer truly took hold with an extended period of warm weather. The result is a vintage of purity and freshness, but with only 2 hectares anyway, quantities are very very small indeed.

The 2020 Vintage produced wines of outstanding elegance and texture, demonstrating with real clarity that 2020 is a vintage of superb quality for both red and white.

Auxey-Duresses 2020

Taken from the village section in the lower part of Les Ecussaux. Wintery aromas of dark cherries and plum. The palate is muscular, but deftly extracted and full of fine, compressed tannins and lots of dark perfume. An elegant wine. 13% abv. 

Corney & Barrow Score 17.5

Recommended drinking from 2024-2031

£195 / case of 6 bottles, in bond UK

Auxey-Duresses 1er Cru 2020
Taken from the premier cru part of les Ecussaux and Les Grand Champs. Mid ruby in colour. Crystalline cranberry aromas with blueberry, bitter chocolate and a hint of rocky minerality. The palate is intricately textured with a lovely translucence of fruit and chalky minerality, framed by fine tannins. There is a brightness here that is hugely charming. 13% abv. 

Corney & Barrow Score 17.5+

Recommended drinking from 2024-2034

£345 / case of 6 bottles, in bond UK

Pommard Les Vaumuriens 2020

This is a cool, east-facing site. Deep ruby colour. Aromas of wild raspberries, ripe strawberries along with an herbaceous undertone. The palate is darker-fruited – plum and blackberry fruit with crushed black pepper and a gentle flintiness. Structurally this wine is impressive, but there is a tenderness here that makes this feel quite effortless. Superb 13% abv. 

Corney & Barrow Score 17.5

Recommended drinking from 2024-2034

£425 / case of 6 bottles, in bond UK

Aligoté Sous-Châtelet 2020

Sous-Châtelet is north-facing – as Jean-Louis Trapet called it, a “terroir for the future”. This holding is planted with small-berried Aligoté doré, planted in 1937. Struck match reduction here, very aromatic – ripe peach and honeysuckle. The palate is delectably ripe and honeyed, offset by tactile saltiness. 13.5% abv. 

Corney & Barrow Score 17.5

Recommended drinking from 2024-2027+

£195 / case of 6 bottles, in bond UK

Aligoté Sous-Châtelet Macéré 2020

Inspired by the Macéré wines of Alsace, on the nose there is a touch of Bergamot, followed by intense aromas of nectarine, honey and orange peel. The palate is yellow-hued, along with notes of crème brûlée, toffee apple and lime zest. Intense stone fruit persists on the palate, but there is a distant sense of tension that makes this really intriguing. 13.5% Abv. 

Corney & Barrow Score 17

Recommended drinking from 2024-2026

£195 / case of 6 bottles, in bond UK

Saint-Romain 2020

This comes from two sites in Saint-Romain – La Perriere and Les Jarrons, both east-facing. A flinty, reductive nose, with a touch of poporn. The palate is stone-fruited and pure, tactile white peach skin and juicy acidity. There is a line of mineral freshness here — so typical of Saint Romain— that lends great energy and drive. 

Corney & Barrow Score 17+

Recommended drinking from 2024-2027

£195 / case of 6 bottles, in bond UK

Auxey-Duresses Blanc 2020

This comes from two vineyards. The first is Les Hautés, a parcel next to Meursault Les Vireuils and Les Fosses. White peach and macadamia nuts on the nose, with a hint of flinty minerality. The palate is gently creamy, with juicy pear and plump peach fruit. Crunchy and tactile on the finish, with lime zest. An early drinker which will give upfront pleasure. 13.5% abv. 

Corney & Barrow Score 17

Recommended drinking from 2024-2026

£295 / case of 6 bottles, in bond UK

Meursault Les Vireuils 2020

This 0.12ha plot in Meursault Les Vireuils is a late-ripening site and Meursault’s highest village climat. Aromas of white peach fruit and honeysuckle, with hay and honeyed ripeness. The palate is powerful, hedonistic with impressive salty minerality and delectable ripe stone-fruit character. A wine of intensity rather than tension. 

Corney & Barrow Score 17

Recommended drinking from 2024-2027

£495 / case of 6 bottles, in bond UK

The 2021 Vintage is a vintage of purity and freshness, but with only 2 hectares anyway, quantities are very very small indeed.

Auxey-Duresses 2021

Mid ruby in colour. Crystalline cranberry aromas with blueberry, bitter chocolate and a hint of rocky minerality. The palate is intricately textured with a lovely translucence of fruit and chalky minerality, framed by fine tannins. There is a brightness here that is hugely charming. 13% abv. 

Corney & Barrow Score 17.5

Recommended drinking from 2024 - 2034 

£195 / case of 6 bottles, in bond UK

Pommard Les Vaumuriens 2021

Dark forest fruit – warming winter berry aromas. The palate is lithe and similarly dark-fruited, with delicate vivacity and salty mineral tension, framed by fine tannins. Violets and peppery spices on the focused finish. An elegant Pommard, excellent. 13% abv. 

Corney & Barrow Score 17.5

Recommended drinking from 2024-2035

£425 / case of 6 bottles, in bond UK

Aligoté Sous-Châtelet 2021

This was pruned very late, which protected it from the April frosts, although the mildew meant that only half a crop was produced. Smoky mineral reduction on the nose that will need time to integrate. The palate is bright, mineral and dominated by notes of crisp green apple. With air more texture builds here, where it becomes apparent that this wine feels quite serious and incredibly young. Coiled tight for now, but with a little patience, this will be good. 13.5% abv. 

Corney & Barrow Score 17+ 

Recommended drinking from 2025 - 2030

£195 / case of 6 bottles, in bond UK

Aligoté Sous-Châtelet Macéré 2021

The nose is richer and with a touch of liquorice and spicy nectarine. The palate is stony-mineral and full of tension despite its plenitude with a touch of herbaceousness. Tactile and almost chewy, with the zip of grapefruit pith on the finish. Intellectual and a lot of fun to show blind! 12% abv.


Corney & Barrow Score 17

Recommended drinking from 2025 - 2028

£195 / case of 6 bottles, in bond UK

Saint-Romain 2021

Pale green. White peppery spices and pastry aromas, with flinty minerality. The palate is juicy and succulent, with limey, zesty lift and vivacious energy. There is a cool serenity to this wine with bags of tension. Exciting.

Corney & Barrow Score 17.5

Recommended drinking from 2025 - 2030

£195 / case of 6 bottles, in bond UK

Meursault Les Vireuils 2021

An intense nose of honeysuckle, apricot and chalky mineral aromas. The palate is fine and focused, with pure, ripe stone fruit and a line of flinty reduction. The mid palate is full, and expansive leading to a salty and energetic finish. Just 1,000 bottles were made.  

Corney & Barrow Score 17.5+

Recommended drinking from 2025 - 2032

£495 / case of 6 bottles, in bond UK