Text by: Gleb King
The Burgundy wine world is old-fashioned and conservative – there are major players, there are negociants and there are some excentrics, but in general, we all know them for years. But even here you can find some exceptions. Pierre-Vincent Girardin made his first vintage in 2017 and immediately captured the attention of wine critics. He’s a 13th generation winemaker raised in Côte de Beaune, making his own wines, inheriting knowledge and contacts from his father, Vincent Girardin. He’s a rising star of Burgundy and so, the prices of his wines are rising like they did on Meursault's latest discovery, Arnaud Ente. If you don’t want to miss out on them, read the text below and make your conclusions.
1. Many exceptional terroirs under one roof
Pierre Girardin’s father’s Domaine Vincent Girardin was sold in 2012 but Pierre received 4.5 hectares of some of the best vineyards out of it. Pierre grew up as a winemaker on plots like Puligny-Montrachet Les Folatieres. Thanks to father’s well respected image, later Pierre had an opportunity to make long term contracts with top growers both in Côte de Beaune and Côte de Nuits – to make wine from their fruit. Today Pierre makes wines in Puligny Folatières (along with Lalou Bize-Leroy), Volnay Clos des Chênes, Pommard Epenots, Corton-Charlemagne, and in Montrachet itself.
2. Terroir-driven philosophy
Today Pierre is in his late 20s but his winemaking approach may be shared with those of some old and wise winemakers. He sources all of his energy to make terroirs speak through his wines. He even ordered bigger 425L barrels from Tonnellerie François Frères not to let wood interfere with wine much. Pierre is not a fan of pigeages and long macerations. He also doesn’t like to filter and refine, concentrating on natural silkiness. Traditional winemaking meets young power and energy here.
3. Vineyard genius
As long as Pierre was literally raised on a vineyard and, as he himself says, worked with wine since he was able to walk, he has a precious in-born feeling of a vineyard. All the vineyards he’s working with (both in métayage and in his property) are organically cultivated. Pierre also uses some biodynamic tools like the Lunar calendar. One of Pierre’s innovations on vineyards was to raise the trellises to improve photosynthesis without extensive pruning. Brilliant!
4. Winemaking genetics
Pierre himself is the 13th generation of his winemaking family. His father, well-respected winemaker Vincent Girardin, who was popular in the 1980s, used to buy the best and the rarest fruit from the most respected vineyards. Since then, the family’s contacts and friendship around Burgundy works on Pierre’s reputation. Pierre likes to recall those days when he was a child and played with his father’s barrels and tractors. Now those games have become a serious passion and business.
5. High accolades
As the critics say, Girardin is one of the most promising winemakers of his generation. For his 2018 vintage, William Kelley from Wine Advocate awarded scores ranging from 92 to 94 points for several Grand Cru wines, including Bâtard-Montrachet, Griotte-Chambertin, Chambertin, and Corton-Charlemagne. Kelley particularly highlighted the Griotte-Chambertin for its elegant aromas, delicate fruit, and refined tannins. The wines were praised not just for their immediate appeal but also for their potential for aging gracefully. Community ratings on platforms like CellarTracker reflect averages in the 90-92 range, with standout bottlings such as Meursault Le Limozin and Puligny-Montrachet receiving exceptional feedback for their complexity and minerality.
