Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Decanter
Michel Bouzereau's 2023 Charmes is a classic Meursault, done with modern flair, featuring aromas of ripe apple and quince with hints of acacia flowers, vanilla and toast. The texture is elegantly lush, but not overly rich. The grapes are from a half-hectare in Charmes Dessus. They are gently pressed and fermented in cask (25% new) before ageing over two winters. This wine will be best after at least five years in the cellar, but it will continue to improve for at least another decade.
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Jasper Morris
Mid lemon yellow. Very little nose. This has the broad body of a Charmes, especially notable for its white fruit, well balanced across the palate, ripe apples, just a little barrel toast, and fine length. More nuances than expected towards the back of the palate. One third of the vines are 60 years old, another third has millerand grapes. Drink from 2028-2035.
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.