GG_N52_FR

BURGUNDY
APPELLATION
primarily of Chardonnay in Meursault and Puligny. His father still lends him a
hand and there is one employee but more staff is needed!
Monthélie, points out Garaudet, has 160 hectares under vine and is the smallest
appellation in the Côte-de-Beaune, sandwiched between Meursault and Volnay.
In fact, prior to 1937, the wines – most of them red – were sold under the Volnay
or Pommard appellations, which explains why Monthélie is not better known.
Hence, it combines “the finesse of Volnay and the powerfulness of Pommard”,
says Garaudet.
He makes his wines in “the Burgundy style”, in other words, designed to be laid
down. They are neither fined nor filtered. The wine is fruity with great balance and
should be drunk within the first eight years or so. In fact, often he markets at least
three different vintages. It is worthwhile having some stocks of red wine for greater
variety, he explains. Despite this, the Americans often want the latest vintage, he
smiles. A bottle will set you back around €30 to €35. His white wines, conversely,
embrace prestigious appellations and fly off the shelves. Seventy percent of his
wines are shipped abroad and Garaudet prefers to deal with a different importer
for each country, primarily the USA, Japan and China, but also the UK, Brazil
and Singapore.
FLORENT GARAUDET AND HIS DAUGHTER MÉLINE
32 SUMMER 2023 • GILBERT & GAILLARD - THE FRENCH EXPERTS ON WINE