2015 Corton-Vergennes, Grand Cru, Château de Meursault, Burgundy

Chardonnay is often seen as the king of white wine grapes and one of the most widely planted in the world It is suited to a wide variety of soils, though it excels in soils with a high limestone content as found in Champagne, Chablis, and the Côte D`Or. Burgundy is Chardonnay's spiritual home and the best White Burgundies are dry, rich, honeyed wines with marvellous poise, elegance and balance. They are unquestionably the finest dry white wines in the world. Chardonnay plays a crucial role in the Champagne blend, providing structure and finesse, and is the sole grape in Blanc de Blancs.

The Paulée de Meursault is held on the Monday after the Hospices de Beaune sale every year, with the cuvérie being cleared of vats and vintage paraphernalia in order to lay tables for lunch for 600 people, the guests having been greeted at the door and then wended their way through the extensive subterranean cellars of the Chateau’s outbuildings.   The Chateau’s holdings extend to over 60ha, including 8ha of the Clos du Chateau, former park land which was planted up in 1975. There is a substantial cuvée of village Meursault raised in new wood, a 1er cru which combines Charmes and Perrières and just over half a hectare of Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Champ Canet.   There are significant volumes of red Burgundy produced here as well, notably a Beaune 1er Cru from ten different plots and separate bottlings of Beaune Grèves and Cent Vignes. In addition the Château enjoys a holding of 3.60ha of Pommard Clos des Epenots, not to be confused with the Comte Armand’s Clos des Epeneaux, and 2.6ha of Volnay Clos des Chênes. Jasper Morris MW, Burgundy Wine Director and author of the award-winning Inside Burgundy comprehensive handbook.