Domaine René Monnier, Meursault 1er Cru Les Charmes 2020

A rich and softly textured wine with balanced toasty oak and a wonderful long creamy finish.

Producer Note
Domaine René Monnier is a leading and sought-after producer situated in the heart of Meursault. With over 18 hectares of vineyard in the most prestigious Crus of the Côte de Beaune, Domaine René Monnier is one of the largest privately owned domains in the region. Founded in 1723, the domain is now in the hands of the tenth generation, with all the wines being skilfully made by Xavier Monnot. Domaine René Monnier's white wines are fresh and stylish avoiding an excessive use of oak, while the reds are the epitome of fine Burgundy demonstrating the balanced, silky style of this house.

Vintage
2016 was generally a challenging vintage due to a severe frost on April 27th which damaged a large part of the crop and resulted in lower yields. Fine weather in September helped to rescue this vintage. The fruit that remained was good quality, without extremes of acidity, alcohol or fruit concentration, resulting in a classic style of Burgundy.

Vineyard
The grapes come from 50 year old vines grown in the Premier Cru vineyard of Les Charmes, which is located on the lower slope of the Cote d'Or at the southern end of the village. The gentle gradient exposes the vines to the morning sunlight, but shelters them from the brighter afternoon sun. The influence of this warmer and cooler microclimate encourages a long, slow ripening period, helping the grapes to retain acidity as they develop rich flavour complexity. The René Monnier vineyards are farmed according to "la lutte raisonnée", using sustainable agricultural methods, reducing the use of chemicals in order to respect the land and its environment. The soils in the vineyard are limestone mixed with marl, retaining moisture in dry weather, but also offering good drainage in cooler weather.

Winemaking
This cuvée was made using traditional Burgundian vinification techniques. Fermentation took place with indigenous yeasts in French oak barrels of which 30% were new. The wine went through malolactic fermentation resulting in a rounder palate. Ageing took place in the French oak barrels for a period of 12 to 14 months. The wine underwent regular ‘bâtonnage’ or lees stirring, imparting texture and a richer complexity to this stunning cuvée.

Tasting Note
Beautiful integration of oak with rich, elegantly styled fruit and a balanced acidity through to a wonderful long, butterscotch well sustained finish.

Grape
Chardonnay 100%