2022 Domaine Michelot Meursault Sous La Velle

Meursault: the heart of white Burgundy

Together with the renowned wine regions of Puligny-Montrachet and Chassagne-Montrachet, Meursault forms the beating heart of the Côte de Beaune. Meursault is the largest of the three and is known for its full-bodied and rich Chardonnay wines. Unlike Puligny and Chassagne, Meursault has no grand cru vineyards, but this does not diminish the quality. Meursault's high reputation comes from the outstanding premier cru and village wines produced here.

Characteristics of Meursault wine

The wines from Meursault are almost exclusively made from the Chardonnay grape and are known for their full flavor and freshness. French sommeliers often describe them with the words “beurre et noisettes,” meaning butter and hazelnut. This rich flavor profile is further refined through aging in oak barrels, which adds extra complexity and aging potential to the wine.

The unique terroir of Meursault wines

What makes Meursault so special is the terroir. The soil in this region consists of a mix of clay, limestone, and marl, providing the perfect foundation for the Chardonnay grape. The cool climate allows for slow ripening, resulting in wines with an excellent balance between freshness and complexity. Even within Meursault, there are differences in the soil, with some vineyards, especially the premier crus, producing more elegant wines.

The best premier cru vineyards of Meursault

The best premier cru vineyards in Meursault include Les Perrières, Les Charmes, and Les Genevrières. These wines are known for their complexity and aging potential, often surpassing the quality of some grand cru wines from other regions.

Flavor profile of Meursault

Meursault wines have a distinctive buttery texture with notes of hazelnut, vanilla, and ripe yellow fruits such as peach and apple. Thanks to aging in oak barrels, these wines often have subtle hints of toasted bread and brioche, adding to their complexity. However, the wine always retains a fresh acidity, which ensures a beautiful balance in the flavor.

Aromas: butter, (hazel)nuts, vanilla, honey, blossom, and sometimes brioche
Taste: full-bodied, buttery, with hints of yellow fruit and a fresh citrus note

Why Meursault is a special wine

Meursault is often considered one of the best white wines in the world, partly due to the small size of the region and the variation in microclimates. This gives each wine a unique character. The high cost of land in Burgundy and the intensive methods of wine production contribute to the price, but also ensure the exceptional quality of every bottle.

In addition to white wine, Meursault also produces a small percentage of red wine, made from Pinot Noir. These red wines are rare and make up only 5% of the total production.

Meursault and food pairings

Meursault is an excellent wine to serve as an aperitif, but it also pairs well with rich fish dishes, poultry, and creamy cheeses. Due to its buttery texture and fresh acidity, Meursault also complements dishes with asparagus or goat cheese. Always ensure that the wine is not served too cold, ideally between 12 and 14 degrees Celsius, so that the aromas can fully develop.

Bourgogne is one of the most prestigious wine regions in the world, located in eastern France. It is renowned for its exceptional wines, unique vineyards, and a rich history dating back to Roman times. Particularly famous for its Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines, Bourgogne is a top destination for wine enthusiasts.

Subregions of Bourgogne

Bourgogne is situated in the central-eastern part of France and covers a relatively small area. However, due to its diverse terroirs and microclimates, it has become a hub of wine production. The region is divided into five major subregions, each with its own unique characteristics and wines.

Chablis

Chablis, located in the northernmost part of Bourgogne, is known for its pure and crisp Chardonnay wines. The unique Kimmeridgian limestone soils in this area give the wines a distinctive mineral character. Top appellations such as Chablis Grand Cru and Premier Cru, with vineyards like Les Clos and Vaillons, produce wines of exceptional quality, known for their lively acidity and minerality.

Côte de Nuits

The Côte de Nuits is renowned for its outstanding Pinot Noirs. Located in the northern part of the Côte d'Or, this area offers perfect conditions for producing some of the most sought-after red wines in the world. Prestigious appellations like Gevrey-Chambertin and Vosne-Romanée produce complex, elegant, and refined wines that age beautifully.

Côte de Beaune

The Côte de Beaune is known for both its red and white wines, but the region particularly excels in producing some of the world's best Chardonnays. Appellations such as Meursault, Puligny-Montrachet, and Chassagne-Montrachet produce rich, oak-aged white wines of exceptional quality. Pinot Noir also plays an important role here, with iconic red wines from Volnay and Pommard.

Côte Chalonnaise

The Côte Chalonnaise offers an excellent balance between quality and affordability. This area, located south of the Côte de Beaune, produces both high-quality Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Appellations like Mercurey and Givry are known for their expressive yet affordable wines.

Mâconnais

The Mâconnais, located in the southern part of Bourgogne, produces some of the region's most accessible Chardonnay wines. Wines from appellations like Pouilly-Fuissé and Saint-Véran are riper and fruitier, thanks to the warmer climate in this area.

Terroir of Bourgogne

The terroir of Bourgogne is unique and plays a crucial role in the exceptional quality of its wines. The diverse soils, including limestone, clay, and gravel, give the wines their distinctive flavor profiles. The orientation of the vineyards and the continental climate, with cold winters and warm summers, contribute to the slow ripening of the grapes, resulting in complex and aromatic wines. Bourgogne's strict appellation system ensures the unique expression of each terroir is preserved.

Grape Varieties in Bourgogne

Bourgogne is best known for two grape varieties: Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, but the region also cultivates other varieties that have their own place in the Bourgogne wine world.

Pinot Noir

Pinot Noir is the king of red grape varieties in Bourgogne. The wines made from this grape are known for their finesse, elegance, and complex aromas of red berries, earth, and spices. Pinot Noir wines from the Côte de Nuits, such as Romanée-Conti and Gevrey-Chambertin, are among the most sought-after in the world.

Chardonnay

Chardonnay is the most prominent white grape variety in Bourgogne. Its versatility allows it to produce a wide range of wines, from the mineral, crisp wines of Chablis to the rich, oak-aged Chardonnays of the Côte de Beaune. These wines often exhibit flavors of green apple, citrus, and sometimes a buttery note.

Aligoté

Although less known, Aligoté plays an important role in Bourgogne. This white grape variety produces light, fresh wines with high acidity. The Bouzeron appellation in the Côte Chalonnaise is known for the best Aligoté wines, which are ideal for early consumption and often show refreshing flavors of citrus and herbs.

Order Bourgogne Wines Online

For wine lovers looking to discover the unique flavors of Bourgogne, there are numerous opportunities to order Bourgogne wines online. Whether you're seeking a refined Pinot Noir from the Côte de Nuits or a crisp Chardonnay from Chablis, ordering online offers the convenience of having the best wines from this prestigious region delivered straight to your door.

Chardonnay might just be the most versatile white grape in the world. From crisp, mineral Chablis to rich and creamy Napa Valley wines, this grape can do it all. No wonder winemakers and wine lovers can’t get enough of it. 

Chardonnay history and origin

The birthplace of Chardonnay is Burgundy, France. The small village of Chardonnay in the Mâconnais region gave the grape its name. It’s believed to be a natural crossing between Pinot and the ancient Gouais Blanc. Already in the Middle Ages, Chardonnay was recognized as a grape with great potential.

Burgundy is still the ultimate reference point. From Puligny-Montrachet and Meursault come some of the most refined examples. In Chablis, Chardonnay is the star: sharp, mineral, and refreshing.

In Champagne, it’s often blended with Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. Sometimes it shines solo, in a Blanc de Blancs, showing just how adaptable Chardonnay really is.

Ideal conditions for Chardonnay

Chardonnay can grow almost anywhere, but it thrives best on limestone soils. In cooler climates it delivers high acidity and a lean style. In warmer regions you’ll get riper fruit flavors and a fuller body. Winemakers can influence the style further through oak aging and batonnage (stirring the lees). That’s why wines from the same grape can taste so completely different.

Chardonnay around the world

Outside France, Chardonnay has conquered the globe. In California—especially Napa Valley and Sonoma—it’s loved in a richer, more opulent style with tropical fruit and a touch of vanilla from oak. In Australia, regions like Yarra Valley and Margaret River produce both crisp and powerful versions. South Africa, Chile, and Argentina add their own twists. Even in cooler New Zealand, Chardonnay thrives, often showing lively acidity and pure fruit.

Typical characteristics of Chardonnay wines

Chardonnay is a true chameleon. In Chablis you’ll taste lemon, green apple, and salty minerality. In Burgundy you get more depth, often with notes of butter, hazelnut, and white stone fruit. In the New World, flavors lean toward pineapple, mango, and ripe peach. Winemaking choices matter too: oak brings roundness, creaminess, and hints of vanilla or toast, while stainless steel preserves freshness and a clean profile.

What to eat with Chardonnay?

Chardonnay’s versatility makes it a natural match at the table. A few go-to pairings:

• Chablis: oysters, sushi, ceviche
• Burgundy: roast chicken with lemon, creamy pasta, comté cheese
• Champagne Blanc de Blancs: shellfish, light cheeses
• New World Chardonnay: grilled salmon, lobster with butter, soft cheeses

The rule of thumb: light Chardonnay with light dishes, fuller styles with richer foods. That way, everything stays in balance.

Fun facts about Chardonnay

– Chardonnay is the most widely planted white grape variety in the world.

– In the 1990s, the “ABC movement” (Anything But Chardonnay) appeared because the grape had become so dominant. Ironically, it never lost its popularity. At Grandcruwijnen, ABC means Au Bon Climat these days!

– Champagne made only from Chardonnay is called “Blanc de Blancs,” known for its freshness and finesse.

– Winemakers often call it a “winemaker’s grape,” because it offers so many possibilities in the cellar.

Order Chardonnay online?

At Grandcruwijnen you’ll find a wide selection of Chardonnays: from crisp Chablis to rich Burgundies and characterful New World bottles. All wines are stored in our climate-controlled Wine Warehouse. Picking up your order yourself? You’ll receive an instant discount, visible right away when you select ‘Afhalen’ (Pick-up) at checkout.