Winemaker Notes
This white maintains a coiled tension and powerful bold structure. As complex aromas of white flowers, citrus skin, and wet stony earth lead, the ripe fruit and tangy acidity emerge on the palate to lend structure and energy over the long finish. Oak plays a supporting role and recedes over time as nuances of hazelnut and lemon curd emerge.
Professional Ratings
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Jasper Morris
Mid lemon yellow. Plenty of weight on the nose, stones to follow perhaps? Yes indeed, on the palate. A huge wealth here, balanced between the more luscious fruit which stops just short of white peaches, and the mineral energy. Long finish of course. Barrel Sample: 93-95
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2023 Meursault 1er Cru Les Perrières (Domaine Louis Jadot) is terrific, unfurling in the glass with aromas of crisp orchard fruit, white flowers, toasted nuts and iodine. Medium to full-bodied, racy and layered, it's chiseled and mineral, with bright acids and a saline finish.
Barrel Sample: 92-94
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.