Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
-
Vinous
The 2023 Meursault Genevrières 1er Cru has a wonderful bouquet that follows in the footsteps of the stellar 2022, with real mineral drive and a sense of tension even at this early stage. The palate is well defined and poised, revealing fresh tangerine and Clementine notes. It is quite vibrant with a long, persistent tail on the finish. Superb.
Barrel Sample: 94-96 -
Jasper Morris
The older vines are from the 1970s. Part was replanted, but with 161/49 rootstock which was rapidly ripped out again and planted on a better choice. The 2023 Genevrières is leaner in style with pale colour and even some tension on the nose. Lively, with some interesting complex aromatics, including some tangerine notes.
Barrel Sample: 91-93
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.