Winemaker Notes
Critical Acclaim
All Vintages
Established in 1731, Bouchard Père & Fils is one of the oldest and most diverse Estate in Burgundy with approximately 130 ha (320 acres) of vineyards, the majority of which are Premiers and Grands Crus. Highly sought after, their wines benefit from optimal ageing conditions in the underground cellars of the Château de Beaune, the former 15th century royal fortress that the Domaine has occupied since 1820. Bouchard Père & Fils doesn't make wines; they bring them into existence. Cultivation and vinification, on a plot-by-plot basis, are a form of craftmanship that they pride themselves on which has led to the utmost respect for their terroirs. Bouchard Père & Fils obtained the highest level of sustainable agricultural certification (HVE3) in 2015, being the first in the Côte d'Or to do so.
Known to offer a magical balance of smoothness and freshness, Meursault's quality is hard to rival. The village lies in the middle of Côte de Beaune, just south of Volnay. Meursault is said to mean “mouse’s jump” because in the past the plots producing Pinot Noir and those producing Chardonnay were no more than a mouse’s jump from one another. Today the village is almost exclusively Chardonnay. A tiny bit of Pinot Noir is produced here with the best coming from Les Santenots on its northern side near Volnay.
While there are no Grands Crus, Meursault’s numerous acclaimed Premiers Crus can compete with any other top-notch white Burgundy. Some to know are Les Perrières, Les Genevrières, Les Charmes, Le Poruzot, Les Bouchères and Les Gouttes d’Or.
Meursault produces outstanding village level wines as well. In general great Premiers Crus and even village level Meursault (Chardonnay) have enticing aromas of lime peel, tropical fruit, crushed rocks, spice and hazelnut. On the palate there is a wonderful balance of brightness and a seductive length with flavors of white peach, pineapple and citrus.
One of the most popular and versatile white wine grapes, Chardonnay offers a wide range of flavors and styles depending on where it is grown and how it is made. While it tends to flourish in most environments, Chardonnay from its Burgundian homeland produces some of the most remarkable and longest lived examples. California produces both oaky, buttery styles and leaner, European-inspired wines. Somm Secret—The Burgundian subregion of Chablis, while typically using older oak barrels, produces a bright style similar to the unoaked style. Anyone who doesn't like oaky Chardonnay would likely enjoy Chablis.