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DOMAINE MICHELOT
MEURSAULT

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PROFILE:

Beginning with the 1993 vintage, Jean-Francois Mestre assumed control of the vineyards and winemaking at Domaine Michelot, the famed 22 hectare Meursault estate. Mestre, who is married to one of Bernard Michelot’s four daughters, has reinvigorated this large domaine and today the wines are once again counted among Meursault’s finest. 

A wide range is offered, ranging from an oak-aged Bourgogne Chardonnay through six, village level lieu dit wines, to three great Meursault Premier Crus: Genevrieres, Charmes and Perrieres, as well as exceptional Bourgogne Pinot Noir and Santenay 1er Cru Comme.  Vinification is traditional, and the white wines are quickly moved into casks to complete their alcoholic and malolactic fementations. One third new oak is used. The wines benefit from extended contact with the lees and regular battonage, which contributes to their rich and expressive character. To enhance the wines’ vivacity, after 12 months the cuvees are assembled into temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks where they complete their maturation over the next 6 months. The estate’s entire production now appears under the Domaine Michelot label.

Domaine Michelot’s “reasoned” vineyard practices aim at maintaining a balanced natural environment. The goal is to encourage the vine’s natural resistance mechanisms.  They regularly plow the soils and apply compost (and not chemical fertilizers).  Grass is planted between all the rows to absorb water, thereby creating a condition of mild hydric stress for the wines. This condition serves 3 purposes: it encourages the roots to grow deeper into the soil, enhancing the wine’s complexity; it makes for healthier grapes while concentrating their sugar and flavors; and it creates an environment in which vine maladies caused by moisture are naturally prevented.  In July, the Michelot team removes leaves on the east-facing sides of the vines to ensure aeration of the bunches and enhance ripening.  

The BOURGOGNE BLANC comes from the domain’s 3 hectares of south-east facing vineyards at the base of the Meursault slope. The vines, which average 35 years of age, are in the commune of Meursault but are just outside the Meursault appellation because they are on flatter ground. The soil is an ideal mix of limestone and clay over a gravel subsoil; it retains heat and drains well. The vineyard is plowed and grass is planted between the rows; no herbicides and chemical fertilizers are used. The ripe Chardonnay grapes are handled in exactly the same manner as for the Meursaults. The grapes are selected in the vineyard and again at the winery on a sorting table. They are pressed in a pneumatic press, lightly clarified, and then descended by gravity into barrels for the alcoholic and malolactic fermentations.  The wine is aged in oak casks, of which 20% are new, for 10 months and then assembled into tanks to preserve freshness before bottling. The Michelot Bourgogne Chardonnay is a fine introduction to the estate’s style and a super value. It could easily pass for a basic Meursault, as it has all the typicity of the appellation: deep citrus flavors intermingled with toasty notes. 

The domaine’s BOURGOGNE PINOT NOIR comes from a one hectare parcel in the commune of Meursault (but just outside AOC Meursault) at the base of the Limozin slope, in the lieu dit “Les Coutures.” Half of the vines are 69 years old and the other half are 10 years of age, having been recently replanted. The soil is an ideal mix of limestone and clay over a gravel subsoil. This terroir enhances ripening – it retains heat and drains well – and also imparts a complex minerality and subtle structure to the wine. The grapes are hand picked and sorted in the vineyard, transported to the winery in small plastic crates (to prevent crushing) and then sorted again at the winery. The grapes are destemmed and given a brief, cold maceration to enhance the wine’s fruit and color. Alcoholic fermentation proceeds over 12 days with gentle pumping over of the solids, to avoid over-extraction. After the addition of press-wine, the Pinot Noir is racked and put into barrels which are one third each new and one and two years old. The aging period for the Pinot Noir is between 9 - 12 months and malolactic fermentation takes place in cask. The wine is assembled and aged in tank for two months before bottling. To preserve the soft, generous fruit of the 2007 vintage, wine-maker Jean-Francois Mestre bottled the Pinot Noir early, in July of 2008, and allowed it to age in bottle for a further six months before release.

The MEURSAULT SOUS LA VELLE vineyard is located at the base of the slope at an altitude of 220 meters on  a clay-gravel soil. The Michelot parcel of just under one and half hectare has vines averaging 78 years of age. The vines are in excellent health, and J-F Mestre fully expects them to continue to produce well into their next century. Vines this old regularly give consistently ripe grapes, no matter the conditions of the vintage, because their roots are so deep. The Sous la Velle is the most forward, early-drinking of the Michelot wines and is a great introduction to the house style.  

The MEURSAULT CLOS ST FELIX is a monopole vineyard located just behind the Michelot home and winery. It is named for its 18th century owner, Monsieur Thirou de Saint Felix, who was an official during the reign of Louis XV, The Clos’ limestone-clay soil, over a gravel subsoil, retains heat and drains well. As a result, the 30-year-old vines ripen early and are the first to be harvested at the Michelot domaine. The Clos St Felix has a fine, full-bodied structure and very elegant, ripe fruit. This is a classic, generous Meursault that is ready to be enjoyed upon release with a wide range of seafood and white meat dishes. 

Domaine Michelot owns just over one hectare in the LES NARVAUX vineyard. These vines average 65 years of age.  The Narvaux site lies above 1er Cru Genevrieres and below Les Tillets. The soil here is a unique mix of limestone-clay over hard, white rock (limestone marl). The vine roots penetrate through the numerous cracks in the limestone bedrock, imparting minerality and complexity to the wine. These qualities are completed by the ripeness the site creates, due to its Southern exposure and consistent slope. Michelot’s Narvaux combines the qualities of elegance, complexity, freshness and richness. It is a joy to drink as a baby 1er Cru.  

The MEURSAULT LE LIMOZIN is located on the slope directly below the Genevrieres 1er Cru vineyard. The vines average 40 years old and the soil is decomposed limestone rock. The Le Limozin is a rich, and elegant Meursault, that is characteristic of the Genevrieres slope. Flavors of peach, pear, honey and citrus combine with notes of spice and harmoniously integrated oak. Michelot’s Le Limozin has superb balance, finesse and aging potential.  

Michelot owns just over one hectare in the LES NARVAUX vineyard, where the vines are 35 years old. The site lies above 1er Cru Genevrieres and below Les Tillets. It combines the elegance and complexity of the latter with the richness and generosity of the former. The Meursault Narvaux is a supple, concentrated wine with a silky texture and perfectly mature flavors of citrus, minerals and oak. It is a joy to drink!

Michelot’s MEURSAULT LES GRANDS CHARRONS comes from a one hectare plot with 40 year old vines located on mid-slope, between the village of Meursault and the 1er Cru Les Gouttes d’Or. The altitude of the parcel ranges from 220 to 280 meters and the soils range from pure white limestone rock at the top to gravel and clay at the bottom. The varied soil types and microclimates give the Grands Charrons its unique blend of richness, elegance and minerality. The Grands Charrons is a classic Meursault, which is ready to be enjoyed when young or cellared for 3-7 years.   

The MEURSAULT CHARMES 1ER CRU comes from 50 and 60-year-old vines on the slope situated at the border of the upper and lower sections of the climat, at 225 and 250 meters of altitude. The soil is a mixture of limestone and clay over broken rock plates. These warming factors give the Charmes its characteristic ripe, round texture and impressive body and length, complemented by a very stylish use of oak. The Charmes’ flavors of hazelnuts, white peach and honey are memorable. This is a big yet not overpowering Meursault that can last for decades. In the words of Serena Sutcliffe :  Michelot offers “…Terrific wines. Big, rich Charmes – everybody’s idea of fine Meursault.”

Many connoisseurs feel that MEURSAULT GENEVRIERES 1ER CRU  is the quintessential Meursault because it combines the qualities of opulence, intensity, accessibility and finesse in a unique way. Domaine Michelot’s Genevrieres does just that par excellence. Their three-quarters of a hectare, steeply sloping parcel is located in the middle of site, on a limestone-clay soil over a white-limestone, primary rock base. The vines are between 20 and 55 years of age and the altitude is an ideal 250-275 meters.  The perfect blend of soil, exposition, and altitude allows for the perfect ripening of healthy grapes which yield a Meursault 1er Cru that is memorable for the interplay of lively citrus fruit, nutty richness, and invigorating length. The Michelot Genevrieres can be enjoyed when young or aged for 10 or more years. 

MEURSAULT PERRIERES 1ER CRU is often considered the finest site of the appellation and Michelot’s example shows why. Michelot has two parcels in this climat, amounting to one-half of a hectare in total, on the border with Puligny-Montrachet, at 250 to 300 meters altitude. One parcel is next to the Clos des Perrieres, above the Charmes Dessus, on a limestone clay-soil. The other is at the top of the site, above the quarry, with extremely light and stony soil over white limestone. These terroirs create a very racy, intense, minerally, high-toned, even steely wine. The long and penetrating flavors are in the citrus (lime and grapefruit) and spice (white pepper) vein. The Perrieres reaches its optimum at about 10 years of age.

Michelot’s PULIGNY-MONTRACHET AOC is exceptionally full bodied and complex for a village wine.  Its origins lie in two parcels, both bordering famed Puligny 1er Crus (namely, Les Perrieres, with a gravelly soil, and Clavaillon with its clay-dominant terroir).  This gives Domaine Michelot the opportunity to blend the two sites to attain a Puligny-Montrachet AOC that is exceptionally rich, well-defined and elegant. The taste is pure Puligny: peach, green pear, quince and spice are integrated with notes of minerals from the soils and a touch of vanilla judiciously imparted from the oak barrels and lifted by soft, fruity acidity.  It is ready to enjoy with a wide range of foods upon release. 

LABELS: return to top
Label
Bourgogne Chardonnay Label
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Meursault "Sous la Velle" Label
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"Clos Saint-Felix" Label
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Meursault "Grands Charrons" Label
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Meursault "Les Narvaux" Label
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Meursault "Le Limozin" Label
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Meursault-Charmes Label
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Meursault Genevrieres 1er Cru Label
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 Meursault Perrieres
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 Puligny-Montrachet 
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Bourgogne Pinot Noir 
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Santenay-La-Comme
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REVIEWS: return to top

Steve Tanzer Mersault 2005s Reviews

Steve Tanzer Meursault 2004s Reviews

Steve Tanzer Meursault 2002s Reviews

Wine Spectator Review

Wine Spectator 2006s Review

International Wine Cellar Sept./Oct. 2008 Review
 Review
Wine Spectator Meursault 2007s Review
 review
 Wine Spectator Insider 2008s Review
review
Wine Spectator Meursault  2009s Review 
 
PHOTOGRAPHS: return to top

Winery Photos
map
Meursault Vineyards
photographs
 Winery Focus