Meursault

The Meursault and Meursault Premier Cru appellations d'origine contrôlée (AOC) are municipal appellations in the Côte de Beaune, in the Côte d'Or department, strictly limited to the municipality of Meursault. The Meursault appellation or estate comprises a total of 21 Premier Cru-classified climats. As is often the case in Burgundy, appellation names may or may not be followed by the name of their climat of origin.

Meursault is undoubtedly Burgundy’s most renowned village for white wines. Located south of the Côte de Beaune, its vineyards stretch across gentle slopes covering approximately 400 hectares, at an altitude ranging from 230 to 360 meters. The east-facing orientation is highly favorable, as it maximizes sunlight exposure. The vineyards of Meursault rest on white marl in a particularly favorable limestone-rich Bathonian soil.

The vast majority of Meursault and Meursault Premier Cru wines are white wines made from the Chardonnay grape variety. The red wines are made from Pinot Noir. Meursault whites exhibit the aromatic intensity characteristic of Chardonnay, with excellent balance. It is often said that Meursault wines best showcase the expression of Chardonnay. The wines offered by Domaine Henri et Gilles Buisson, Domaine d'Auvenay, Bouchard Père et Fils, and Joseph Drouhin seem to confirm this hypothesis.

Although there is a red wine from Meursault, this vineyard’s reputation for producing world-class white wines is well established. Located in the Côte-d’Or, within the Côte-de-Beaune wine region, the vineyards of Meursault’s white wines are nestled among the greatest names in Burgundy. Monthélie, Volnay, Auxey-Duresses , and Puligny-Montrachet— Meursault shares with these vineyards an eastern exposure on steep slopes where marl soil reigns supreme. The earliest traces of this settlement in Burgundy date back to Antiquity, although it was not until the 13th century—with the city of Beaune’s stated desire to promote its wine, particularly to the Parisian market and northern regions—that the name Meursault began to gain recognition.

Since 2015, the "climats" of the Burgundy region have been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The wines of Château de Meursault, in the heart of the Beaune Valley, embody the ancestral expertise that defines the quality of Meursault wines. This winery is located in the heart of the Meursault appellation and produces wines in the purest Meursault tradition.

This Meursault wine producer owns some of the most prestigious Premier Crus in the appellation. Among the 21 Premier Crus in white Burgundy, Château de Meursault produces “Les Charmes Dessus,” “Charmes,” “Perrières,” and the famous “Clos des Grands Charrons.”

The white wines of Burgundy that make up the Meursault AOC appellation are produced from a single grape variety, the Chardonnay, and fully express its distinctive characteristics. The Chardonnay’s potential for sugar content, combined with its ideal acidity in the climate of the Côte-de-Beaune, results in powerful yet balanced Meursault white wines.

The region’s typical soils, composed mainly of limestone and marl, combined with vineyards planted on steep slopes at an altitude of between 230 and 360 meters—thus enjoying ideal sunlight—contribute to the grapes’ exceptional quality.

The gentle acidity and richness of Meursault white wines pair naturally—without overpowering them—with white meats and fish from the Burgundy region. Veal, poultry, or river fish are perfectly complemented by a simple white sauce and a bottle of Château de Meursault wine served at 12 to 14 degrees Celsius to reveal the full subtlety of its aromas.

For those who appreciate even more refined cuisine, foie gras, shellfish, and blue-veined cheeses are the perfect accompaniments to a Meursault Blanc wine pairing. Meursault is an AOP that you should definitely discover or rediscover.