Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Decanter
Dominique Lafon's home vineyard is always one of the most complete expressions of Meursault and the 2018 is no exception. Picked in three stages according to the age of the vines between August 26th and September 3rd, this is focused, weighty and very lightly wooded, with lovely harmony, depth and complexity and a racy, palate-cleansing finish.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2018 Meursault Clos de la Barre wafts from the glass with scents of waxy citrus rind, fresh pear, mandarin oil and warm pastry, followed by a medium to full-bodied, attractively deep and complete palate. This is the raciest, most structured and most serious of the domaine's communal-level bottlings, and it will be well worth seeking out.
Barrel Sample: 90-92
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.