Meursault Joseph Drouhin

Grape Variety : Chardonnay.

Vineyard Site: a few kilometers south of Beaune, in the celebrated terroir of Côte des Blancs (Slope of the Whites).

History & tradition: Meursault is certainly one of the oldest villages in Burgundy. The camp of Mont Milan, above the present village, was erected and settled in Neolithic times (2,500 BC), before being occupied by the Gauls (500BC) and then the Romans. It was finally abandoned for the present location of the village built during the Gallo-Roman period, at which time the name Muris Saltus (Meursault) was given to it.

Soil: different types of soil are found: deep and colorful around the village, clearer and lighter at mid-slope and nearly white and very rocky in the upper reaches of the appellation.

Viticulture

Plantation density : 10,000 stocks/ha in order to extract all possible nuances from the terroir.

Pruning : Guyot. Yield: 49hl/ha, low on purpose to limit the production of each vine stock.

Supply: grapes and must purchased from regular suppliers.

Vinification

Pressing: very slow so as to respect fruit. Juices from the very last pressings are not retained. No yeasts or enzymes are used. The wine goes directly into barrels after "débourbage" (decanting of white wine to reduce sediment).

Ageing Type: in barrels (25% in new oak). Length: 12 months. Throughout the ageing process, decisions are taken only after careful tasting evaluation. The data obtained is then completed through technical analysis. As with every other Joseph Drouhin wine, absolute priority is given to the true expression of terroir and character of the vintage.

Tasting note by Véronique Boss-Drouhin "A refined wine, well appreciated in the whole world. A beautiful golden colour and a great aromatic palette: honey, linden flower ("tilleul"), hazelnut butter, sometimes even chamomile or hawthorn. On the palate, a silky roundness. Long on the aftertaste, with flavours of yellow plum and gingerbread".

Serving Temperature: 13°C (55°C). Cellaring: 4 to 15 years.