Domaine Patrick Javillier - Meursault
During a two-week excursion through the wine-producing regions of France, the staff of Total Wine & More had the pleasure of meeting Patrick Javillier. Although Patrick is known by only a select few in the United States, he is considered by many wine critics in the world as one of the top five white-wine producers in all of Burgundy. Clive Coates described Patrick as a “passionate seeker of perfection working each barrel differently in a constant series of trials to see what works best. He has little in the way of grand land, but is a real master.” He also referred to him as the “absolute master” of AOC Meursault.
Patrick Javillier is considered a maverick by many of his peers in Burgundy. He has his own unique way of making fine wine, and critics and consumers alike are taking notice. What is so unique about his winemaking? First, he uses a gentle, low-pressure Vaslin press instead of a pneumatic press. He believes that the juice extracted by a Vaslin press transforms into fuller-bodied wines that develop additional complexity over time. Second, he does not use temperature control or cultured yeasts during the fermentation process because he believes they interfere with the terroir and typicity of the wine. Patrick’s quest is to find the unique and special qualities in each of his wines that highlight the different vineyards where they come from. All of Patrick’s wines are barrel aged and go through natural malolactic fermentation.
Patrick Javillier believes he produces Chardonnay that accurately reflects the terroir of Meursault. Each of his Burgundies we tasted offered unique aromas and flavors with intense focus and amazing balance. His wines are remarkable. We all left his cellar with newly found respect for Patrick Javillier. We would never hesitate to purchase any of his selections.
While Patrick Javillier is predominantly a white-wine producer, he also handcrafts a few red wine selections. His Savigny Serpentières proves his versatility. Sensibly he seeks advice on red wines from his friend Philippe Charlopin in Gevrey-Chambertin, and his lightness of touch is also evident. Patrick’s red wine selections are amazingly elegant and smooth.
“Javillier is a passionate seeker after truth (or, in this case, perfection) working each barrel differently in a constant series of trials to see what works best. He has little in the way of grand land, but he is a real master.” — Clive
Patrick Javillier Wine
