Winemaker Notes
Monthelie Les Duresses possesses a backbone of acidity and elevated fragrance thanks to its ascending location on the hill above the village. The salty and mineral character of this wine might come across as austere to some tasters if it weren't for 12-months aging in 20% percent new small French oak barrels which lend roundness and notes of toast and vanilla.
White Burgundy, with its richness, texture, and toasted flavors pairs well with light fish and shellfish and can counterbalance cream-based sauces. Oak-aged Chardonnay from warmer climates lends itself well to grilled fish, starches, butter, and toasted nuts.
Professional Ratings
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Vinous
The 2022 Monthélie Blanc Les Duresses has a light but focused bouquet with hints of orchard fruit and chamomile in the background. Discrete. The palate is well-balanced with a crisp, quite concentrated entry. This is spicier than the 2021 last year, very cohesive, not amazingly complex, but there's plenty of energy on the finish.
Barrel Sample: 89-91 -
Wine Spectator
A briny mineral element signals this brisk white, whose lemon, apple and spice flavors are aligned with a creamy texture. A harmonious version, with a toasty finish.
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.