Meursault 1er Cru Les Charmes 2023 Nicole Lamarche | Burgundy

Nicole Lamarche 's Meursault 1er Cru Les Charmes is born on one of Meursault's most emblematic climats, in the heart of the Côte de Beaune. The Charmes climat is renowned for its fine limestone and light clay soils, which produce generous, luminous wines. In the hands of Domaine Nicole Lamarche, a Vosne-Romanée figure more associated with the great reds of the Côte de Nuits, Chardonnay finds a full, energetic expression here. The grapes come from neighboring wine estates, and are aged in a combination of Burgundian barrels and amphorae, a particularly rare choice in Meursault, designed to bring more energy to the naturally full texture of this Premier Cru. The result is singularly delicious, infinitely racy, and promised to evolve serenely over two decades.

Philippe Mischler, sommelier at Mundovin : This Meursault Premier Cru Les Charmes from Domaine Lamarche expresses a bold interpretation of its prestigious terroir. The expected richness of the climate is there, restrained by a mineral tension immediately reminiscent of Nicole Lamarche's signature. The wine does not seek opulence but precision, with a depth of texture that stretches more in energy than in volume. The presence of the amphora in the ageing adds an extra vibrancy, giving the juice a dynamic that is rare for a Charmes. This Meursault Premier Cru is both full-bodied and chiselled, carried by a saline energy that will give it even greater depth after a few years in the cellar.

The nose evokes a fine smoky touch interwoven with ripe aromas of yellow fruit and citrus. On aeration, an almost pastry-like quality emerges, tempered by the stony minerality of the terroir. The whole remains clear and precise, enlivened by a controlled reduction that reinforces the wine's aromatic definition.

The palate unfolds in a full, round register, quickly overtaken by a saline energy that imparts its cadence and incredible finesse to the wine - a very Lamarche style! The minerality perfectly balances the natural generosity of the climate. The yellow fruit and citrus flavors gain in intensity as the tasting progresses, prolonged by the subtle tension that runs through the wine and stretches its frame to a juicy, delicate finish.