Winemaker Notes
Bouchard Père & Fils is the largest and most diverse landowner in Meursault with almost 50 acres. The Bouchard Père & Fils estate owns 21.34 acres of Les Clous, almost half of the total area. On the terroir of Meursault, many of the vineyards classified as a village appellation are situated on marly ground identical to the Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru (only the topography and altitude differ). These vineyards of a quality equivalent to that of a Premier Cru deserve to be vinified separately, which is the case for vines from the terroir of Les Clous.
The nose has intense notes of fruit and flowers combined with a mineral touch. Rich and subtle wine, whose spring brings it a perfect balance. Good aging potential.
Pairs well with fish in sauce.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Creamy and broad across the medium-to full-bodied palate, showing cooked and dried-apple character and lemon undertones. Some crushed stone and flint. Drink and enjoy. Why wait?
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2018 Meursault Les Clous is also showing very well, revealing aromas of citrus oil, crisp Anjou pear, white flowers and pastry cream. On the palate, it's medium to full-bodied, chiseled and tensile, with lively acids and a mineral finish.
Range: 89-91 -
Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
COMMENTARY: The 2018 Bouchard Père & Fils Meursault Les Clous is a beautifully-built wine. TASTING NOTES: This wine is bright and lively on the palate and in the finish. Pair its lively aromas and flavors of dried earth, herbs, and rustic notes with pan-seared sea scallops. (Tasted: March 3, 2020, San Francisco, CA)
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.
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.