(Please see here for an overview of conditions in 2018 and here for an overview of the harvest at Prieur.)
The grand cru whites had yields of about 40 hl/ha, the premiers crus about 45 to 50 hl/ha. There was some stirring of the lies (bâtonnage), the first time in some years at this estate; additionally, the whites could not be racked for a while, which led to their further being nourished.
Especially for the top wines, these are outstanding successes.
2018 Bourgogne Chardonnay
Floral, vanilla nose. Good acidity, nice quince fruit, apple tart, medium-light. Racked, now in stainless. Part vinified in barrique, part in large oval (foudre). (87-89)
2018 Meursault Clos de la Mazeray
Mineral nose. Medium-weight, saline, lemony, smooth, easy, but good concentration. 25-30 years average age. Part racked. Part vinified in foudre (racked and lies added back), part vinifed in barrique (not racked). (89-92)
2018 Beaune 1er Cru Coucherais
Only 3 year old vines — Clos de la Féguine is in this appellation and fruit from the vines prior to replanting had been labelled as Clos de la Féguiine. High acidity, apple fruit, some length, chalky. Rustic, but interesting and very promising for future vintages. (86-88)
2018 Beaune 1er Cru Grèves
About 10 year-old vines. Ripped out 1 ha at bottom where soils are sandy to plant these vines. White Beaune austerity, medium-weight, good concentration, good acidity, lemony. (89-91)
2018 Beaune 1er Cru Champs Pimonts
Broader, less saline than the Grèves, a bit of creaminess, good minerality, good depth, lemony fruit. Very good balance. (91-93)
2018 Beaune 1er Cru Clos de la Féguine
Chalky nose. Round, medium-weight, chalky, mineral, lemon-lime and quince, more austere than Champs Pimonts, more structure, needs more time. Chalky soils. (90-92)
2018 Meursault 1er Cru Santenots
Here not the concentration of the previous few wines. 2003 was first harvest (previously had been planted to Pinot Noir). Stony, austere, needs time, good energy, chalky. (89-92)
2018 Meursault 1er Cru Perrières
Great stony nose, with some apple fruit behind the stoniness. In the mouth, enough tension to be typical of Perrières, sensuality, stoniness apple fruit, some creaminess of texture. A major success. (93-96)
2018 Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Combettes
Medium-weight, some creaminess of texture, excellent stoniness and minerality, good supporting acidity, tension, depth, chiseled, balanced. Outstanding expression of Combettes. (94-96)
2018 Chevalier-Montrachet
Pure expression of Chevalier — finesse, chiseled stoniness, length, lightness, perfect balance, incipient peach. Terroir dominates the vintage here for an outstanding success. (94-97)
2018 Montrachet
Stony, intense, powerful, complete, long. Why Montrachet is the greatest dry white vineyard. But needs time. (95-97)
2018 Corton-Charlemagne
Last vineyard to be harvested — even after the reds — 11 or 12 September. East-facing, from the Ladoix portion of the appellation, cool climate, clay and marl soils. Fine, buttery nose with some spice. Very good acidity, richness, but not too much, of body, depth, tightly-wound with plenty of energy. Penetrating. Great potential. (95-97)