Lupe-Cholet Meursault 2011
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In 1903 in Nuits-Saint-Georges, Alexandre de Mayol de Lupé and Félix de Cholet joined forces to create the House which still bears their name, Lupé Cholet. Their adage « To combine the best of soil, vine and human skill to produce wines of unique personality » remains as relevant today as it was in 1903.
Today Lupé Cholet owns 25 hectares of prime vineyards in the Côte d’Or and Chablis as well as benefitting from long-established partnerships with various wine growers throughout Burgundy. This means that Lupé Cholet is perfectly positioned to offer one of the most extensive and highest quality portfolios in Burgundy. Only the very finest grapes are carefully selected for vinification in their beautiful 13th Century cellars at Chateau du Clos de Lupé in Nuits St Georges. Hand-picking, gentle pressing, partial or total de-stemming and cold maceration prior to fermentation are some of the techniques used to impart an elegant, feminine style to their wines. A house style that produces silky, complex wines with seductive ripe fruit aromas that progressively reveal themselves at each stage in their evolution.
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.