2011 Meursault Genevrieres
By Domaine Coche-Dury
2011 Meursault Genevrières from Domaine Coche-Dury, Burgundy, France
The Burgundy region, with its grand tapestry of terroirs, has once more given us a reason to marvel with the 2011 vintage of Meursault Genevrières from Domaine Coche-Dury. This esteemed producer has perennially crafted Chardonnays that capture the varietal’s quintessence with an artistry rivalled by few.
A Testament to Terroir and Tradition
The Domaine's meticulous viticultural practices and a deep understanding of the unique Meursault terroir are palpable in the glass. Despite a vintage fraught with challenges—including an erratic growing season—the 2011 Meursault Genevrières emerges as a testament to winemaking resilience and skill.
Climatic Subtleties: A Vintage to Remember
While 2011 posed its set of trials for Burgundy winemakers, Domaine Coche-Dury navigated these with finesse, managing to elicit a wine of balanced vivacity and richness. The cooler late-season temperatures allowed the grapes from Genevrières to ripen at a gradual pace, developing a complex bouquet without sacrificing the signature tension of this lineage.
The wine speaks eloquently of its climatic narrative, offering a symphony of ripe stone fruits interlaced with honeyed almonds, underscored by an enlivening mineral streak so characteristic of the Genevrières' chalky soils. On the palate, the 2011 vintage confers depth and sophistication not easily paralleled—creamy yet unerringly punctuated with beaming acidity that promises further unfolding with age.
In the realm of fine wine investment, contemplating an addition such as the 2011 Meursault Genevrières from Domaine Coche-Dury to one's portfolio is more than an acquisition; it's a statement of discerning taste and a foresight towards wines that not only persevere but triumph over climatic adversity.
An Exemplar for Collectors and Connoisseurs Alike
To sip on the 2011 Meursault Genevrières is to experience a harmonious blend of texture and terroir—a dynamic rendition from this Burgundian cornerstone. It is clear that Domaine Coche-Dury has once again manifested their trademark excellence through climatic adaptation, presenting collectors with an impressive wine that stands tall amid the unpredictability of nature's elements. Enthusiasts aiming for diversity or stalwart investors alike should consider this vintage a poised choice amongst fine wines shimmering with investment potential.
Current market price
£32,100.00
12x75cl
Highest score
93
POP score
2469.23
Scores and tasting notes
The 2011 Meursault 1er Cru Les Genevrieres has a complex bouquet with hints of granite and limestone sprinting out of the blocks first, subsequently followed by bruised apple and honeysuckle aromas joining the chorus line. The palate is very precise on the entry with hints of passion fruit and orange zest, before it fans out with an almost clinical yet understated finish. What a beautiful, quintessential Genevrieres! Drink 2016-2035. As I had anticipated, Raphael Coche requested that I visit after he had clocked off for the day. No problem – I’d rather he focuses on the vines than appease the demands of us “pesky” wine writers. This was actually my first visit to the domaine, which seems odd because it is many moons since I first fell in love with Jean-Francois Coche’s wines at a memorable tasting in London in the late 1990s. Since then, Raphael, still in his early thirties, has deftly slipped into his father’s shoes. Tall and the spitting image of papa, I had been forewarned that Raphael can be reticent at times. On the contrary, he was refreshingly garrulous, chatting not only about his own wines but enthusing about Pomerol after I espied a dusty bottle of 1987 Petrus incongruously perched on the shelf. In my opinion, and indeed others’, Raphael has subtly tweaked the style and perhaps even improved on what was already a winning formula. Recent vintages seem more consistent, perhaps even more aligned with their respective terroirs. On this visit, we tasted through most of the domaine’s 2011s that had been bottled the previous spring and are currently on the market. Raphael spoke enthusiastically about the 2011 vintage and rightly so. There is a natural sensibility to these wines, an approachability that is not always evident in their wines, proceeding to compare them to the 2001 vintage. My experience of this domaine’s wines means that I am happy to put long drinking windows for even the village crus, which I often reward a decade in bottle. Personally, I have found less premature oxidation at this address than others, in particular with respect to younger vintages, though nobody is totally immune. Importer: Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant, Berkeley, CA; tel. (510) 524-1524 and Berkmann Wines in the UK.
Neal Martin - The Wine Advocate, 29 April 2014