Domaine Pierre Meurgey - "Les Chaliots" Nuits-Saint-Georges 2021

Pierre Meurgey's story is as much about the future of Burgundy as it is about making wine...

A fourth-generation Burgundian, Pierre spent more than two decades at the helm of Maison Champy, one of Burgundy's oldest and most historic négociant houses. But in the early 2010s, he decided to take a different path. After years working at the heart of Burgundy's traditional wine trade, he was drawn toward something smaller, more personal — and perhaps — more faithful to what makes the region so extraordinary in the first place: its mosaic of tiny vineyards, independent growers and families who, like him, have worked the same land for generations.

Rather than building another large négociant operation, Pierre developed a much more artisanal model, working his own vineyards alongside a carefully selected group of growers committed to sustainable, organic or biodynamic farming. His involvement begins long before harvest and continues through vinification and élevage, with each wine produced on a small scale to preserve the individuality of its vineyard.

This commitment to sustainability is nothing new. Pierre was already helping drive the transition toward organic and biodynamic farming during his years at Maison Champy. But his vision goes beyond farming practices alone. For Pierre, preserving Burgundy also means protecting the people who farm it.

As vineyard prices continue to climb and ownership becomes increasingly concentrated, many small growers face enormous financial pressure, particularly when it comes to passing their land to the next generation. By building long-term relationships, paying growers fairly for their work and giving them an alternative to selling their vineyards, Pierre is helping preserve the family ownership and diversity that have defined Burgundy for centuries.

At the heart of his philosophy is a simple conviction: great Burgundy begins with healthy vineyards and the people who care for them. His ambition is not simply to make great wines today, but to leave behind healthier soils, thriving family vineyards and a region that future generations, including his own children, can be proud to inherit.

In many ways, Pierre isn't trying to reinvent Burgundy. He's working to preserve what makes it Burgundy.

His 2021 Nuits-Saint-Georges "Les Chaliots" is a beautiful reflection of that philosophy: Produced in very small quantities from a specific village-level lieu-dit, Les Chaliots offers everything that makes Nuits-Saint-Georges so distinctive: dark cherry, blackberry and cassis, a savory, slightly earthy character and the structure that gives these wines their ability to age gracefully. The cooler 2021 vintage brings a wonderful freshness and energy, with fine tannins and an elegance that makes the wine particularly appealing tonight, or any night for next 10+ years.

When you taste Pierre’s wines, his passion for Burgundy, his dedication to its growers and the care he puts into his craft are unmistakable. The quality speaks for itself, and his 2021 Les Chaliots is a stellar expression of what he does so well. Wines this good give me every confidence that Pierre’s estate and his vision for Burgundy will flourish for generations, preserving the independent growers and family vineyards that make the region so special. I fully expect his wines to remain a fixture on the Corkscrew’s shelves for years to come.