The 2012 Meursault Les Clous comes from a cooler microclimate that is translated into the crisp, flinty bouquet with race and tension. The palate is well-balanced with a smooth, slightly honeyed entry with a saltiness coming through on the back-palate. Moderate length and delineation, this deserves two or three years in bottle. Very fine. Drink 2016-2026.
Although I tasted the wines of this Burgundy grand maison in London, I spent a morning with winemaker Philippe Prost to go through at least part of their large portfolio to get an insight into Bouchard Pere & Fils. Ever since Michel Bouchard established the house in 1731, it has been a permanent fixture in Burgundy, surviving seizure by the State after the Revolution, phylloxera, two World Wars and periods when the world simply was uninterested in Burgundy. Today they own 130 hectares of vines, more than any Bordeaux chateau, including 12 grand crus and 74 premier crus.
Importer: Henriot Inc. and John E. Fells in the UK.