Winemaker Notes
Full and round, this wine is fruity while smooth and rich. A layer of crisp acidity is surrounded by generous white and yellow fruits, accented by a touch of toast and spice. A golden and shiny color. A beautiful aromatic expression with fresh white & yellow fruit, brioche notes, and a delicate hints of wood. The mouth is ample, voluminous, and round with superb balance.
Professional Ratings
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
The 2023 Philippe le Hardi Meursault shows a light straw hue with a faint green tint and opens with inviting aromas of ripe peach skin and subtle cream. On the palate, it reveals layers of ripe apple, creamy texture, and a distinctive mineral edge. Elegant and balanced, this wine pairs beautifully with a classic Burgundian chicken entrée, such as Poulet Gaston Gérard or Poulet à la Moutarde. (Tasted: October 23, 2025, San Francisco, CA)
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Jasper Morris
A blend of Moulin Landin and Les Clous. Pale colour, with very little nose. There is no obvious Meursault character standing out at this point. The Meursault is much better on the palate where there is more energy, a bit of bacon fat, good acidity but plenty of fruit returning behind in a long finish. Barrel Sample: 88-90
Domaine du Château Philippe le Hardi (formerly Château de Santenay) was once the majestic stately home of the first Duke of Burgundy. This historic estate is one of Burgundy’s most prestigious producers with its colorful glazed roof tiles. Working in a very natural way, they farm their 200+ acres of vineyards throughout the Côte d’Or and Côte Chalonnaise. Their wines are distinctive and reflect the delicate complexities of each unique vineyard site. For the last 20 years, the domaine has been taking an environmentally-friendly approach to growing, proving itself to be a true pioneer in this respect. It has been TERRA VITIS certified since 2004 and was certified by the Ministry of Agriculture in 2009 for its use of sustainable growing methods. In 2015, it was one of the first wine domaines to receive ‘High Environmental Value’ (HEV 3) certification respecting a new set of specifications issued by the French Ministry of Agriculture. In 2016, the domaine set up an apiary close to the vineyards in order to verify that the techniques used were harmless to bees, which are very sensitive to the environment. Plans are already in place to introduce more hives.
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.