Domaine Jean Grivot - Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru 'Les Pruliers' 1985

Domaine Jean Grivot - Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru 'Les Pruliers' 1985

1. Introduction

The Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru 'Les Pruliers' 1985 from Domaine Jean Grivot is a red wine from the heart of the Côte de Nuits in Burgundy. This wine represents a legendary vintage known for its exceptional quality and enormous ageing potential. Domaine Jean Grivot, one of the most prestigious addresses in the region, combines traditional craftsmanship with the unmistakable characteristics of its terroir in this cuvée.

2. The winery: Domaine Jean Grivot

The Grivot family can look back on over two centuries of winemaking tradition in Burgundy. Joseph Grivot settled in Vosne-Romanée at the end of the 19th century. His son Gaston sold some vines in 1919 to secure a large plot of land in Clos Vougeot. Jean Grivot, who gave his name to the estate, acquired 31 ares of the Grand Cru Richebourg in 1984. His son Étienne took over the management in 1987 and decisively characterised the modern style of the estate.

Today, the domaine cultivates 14.72 hectares, producing 18 different wines, mainly red wines with great ageing potential. The average age of the vines is over 40, in some cases over 50 years. The estate is committed to sustainable cultivation, largely without herbicides and favours organic methods and composting. Vinification involves 100% destemming, cold maceration for around six days and 15 months of ageing in oak barrels, of which around 30% are new. Bottling takes place without fining or filtration.

3. The 1985 vintage in Burgundy

The 1985 vintage is considered legendary in Burgundy. The year began with exceptionally cold and frosty conditions in winter and spring, with temperatures dropping as low as -30 °C in January. These extreme conditions led to low yields, but ultimately to wines of great concentration and remarkable ageing potential. The resulting red wines are known for their dense, powerful and long-lasting character.

4. The site: Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru 'Les Pruliers'

The 'Les Pruliers' Premier Cru vineyard is located in the southern part of the Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru belt. At around 7 hectares, it is one of the larger Premier Cru vineyards in the appellation. The vineyard is located on a medium slope with a southern exposure. The soils consist of dark red and brown earth mixed with limestone and gravel, and have a higher clay content due to the proximity to the Meuzin. The name 'Les Pruliers' is derived from the numerous wild service trees that once grew here and were called "pruyers" in the region. This complex interplay of limestone, clay and rock gives the wines a combination of mineral tension and a full, structured texture.'Les Pruliers' is known for its powerful, firm and tannic wines that need a lot of time to mature. Domaine Jean Grivot cultivates a 0.76-hectare plot here with vines that are over 50 years old.

5. Characterisation of the wine

• Grape variety: 100% Pinot Noir.

• Winemaking: The grapes are harvested by hand, completely destemmed and macerated for around 17 days with gentle remontage. Malolactic fermentation takes place in spring. Ageing takes place for 15 months in oak barrels, one third of which are new.

• Profile: The wine is described as rich, with round tannins, yet "racy" and wild.'Les Pruliers' is a distinctly ageworthy wine, for which a maturation period of at least ten years is recommended. The 1985 vintage should have reached its full potential today and be in an optimal drinking window.

5.1. official description of the winery

Domaine Jean Grivot's official description of 'Les Pruliers' emphasises the special characteristics of the terroir. The wine comes from a large terroir with a south-easterly exposure, on a stony and very clayey soil. This gives it fullness and round tannins, while still retaining a racy, wild note. The description for the 1985 vintage on iDealwine also emphasises the "Vin de garde" label, which underlines the importance of ageing for this wine.

5.2 Comparison with other vintages

A direct comparison with other vintages, such as the 2011 'Les Pruliers', shows the distinct character of the 1985. The 2011 is described as "unusually refined and polished", with notes of sweet dark cherries, exotic spices, liquorice and mint. In contrast, the 1985 is probably even more powerful, structured and earthy, a wine that fully brings out the strengths of the legendary vintage.

5.3. note on the authenticity and origin of the wine

This report is based on detailed secondary information from reputable sources such as the online archive of iDealwine and the official Domaine website, which provide extensive background data on the Domaine, terroir and winemaking. Specific tasting notes for this rare vintage are not listed in the available sources, so the information presented here is based on the described characteristics of the wine and vintage.

6. Price development

The average selling price for a bottle of Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru 'Les Pruliers' 1985 from Domaine Jean Grivot is around €350 (as of the price list). An auction of the wine recently recorded a price of €255 per bottle (as of 27 January 2016). It can be assumed that the current market value is higher due to the rarity of the vintage and the increasing age of the wine.

7. Serving recommendation

The ideal serving temperature for this wine is between 15 and 16 °C . Due to its age, careful decanting is recommended to separate the sediment. The wine should be decanted or opened at least one hour before consumption to allow it to develop its full flavour.

8. Food recommendations

The structure and aromas of the 1985 'Les Pruliers' harmonise perfectly with savoury dishes. Classic accompaniments are:

• Roast pheasant (Faisan rôti)

• Leg of lamb (Gigot d'agneau)

• Bresse chicken (Poulet de Bresse)

The wine also goes well with game dishes, mature cheeses or mushroom dishes that complement its earthy flavour.

9. Summary

Domaine Jean Grivot Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru 'Les Pruliers' 1985 is a wine for connoisseurs that combines two of Burgundy's hallmarks: a legendary vintage and a first-class estate.

• Strengths: Expression of a legendary Burgundy vintage, characteristic terroir of 'Les Pruliers' (limestone, clay, structure), high ageing potential and complexity, renowned Domaine Jean Grivot.

• Profile: Powerful, earthy, wild, racy, rich with round tannins.

• Drinking window: The wine is now in its ideal drinking phase.

• Verdict: An authentic, great Burgundy that combines the elegance of Pinot Noir with the power of a great vintage. This wine is a special rarity for collectors and lovers of mature Burgundy.