Jean-Michel Gaunoux, Meursault Premier Cru, Les Gouttes d'Or, Burgundy
Jean-Michel Gaunoux, Meursault Premier Cru, Les Gouttes d'Or, Burgundy
An introduction to Jean-Michel Gaunoux, Meursault Premier Cru, Les Gouttes d'Or, Burgundy
The Premier Cru Les Gouttes d’Or cuvée by Jean-Michel Gounoux is sourced from a tiny 0.31-hectare plot of Chardonnay vines in the Premier Cru designated vineyard of Les Gouttes d’Or in the village of Meursault. The easterly aspect of the site ensures good phenolic ripeness in the grapes, but the higher elevation compared to the rest of the commune means that the berries can retain acidity and freshness – a hallmark of the terroir that is evident in Jean-Michel’s interpretation. The wine shows great poise in the mouth, with the characteristic fullness of Meursault Chardonnay balanced by vibrant fruit character and delicate floral notes.
Performance
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Understanding Jean-Michel Gaunoux, Meursault Premier Cru, Les Gouttes d'Or, Burgundy
The vines, which were planted in 1950, are farmed sustainably without recourse to pesticide or herbicide sprays. The fruit is hand-picked and fermented with ambient yeast strains in mostly neutral French oak barrels, only between 20-25% of which is new. Subsequent élevage and full malolactic fermentation is conducted in the same barrels, before a light racking into wooden vats prior to bottling with only minimal sulfur dioxide, and without fining or filtration. This is a classic Meursault from Jean-Michel, showing ample mouthfeel yet delicate acidity, and sure to develop extra opulence with a decade or more of careful cellaring.