Winemaker Notes
The parcels which make our Meursault 1er Cru Genevrières lie at the very heart of the village’s great 1ers Crus hillside. Here the soil is clay/limestone with a subsoil that varies between fallen rock, volcanic rock and white limestone. Two parcels at the midslope level are cultivated, between 820 and 900 feet above sea level. One is right in the centre of the hillside and the other on the border with the Meursault 1er Cru Poruzot vineyards to the west. A regular slope of between 10 and 25% assures good exposure to the sun.
The wine is a fine example of the Meursault style with great finesse, mineral notes, opulence and a beautiful finish that never becomes heavy. It goes well with foie gras, poultry, white meats and fatty cheeses. Usually, the wine should be drunk within 5 to 10 years after bottling.
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.