94+ Points — John Gilman, View From the Cellar
93 Points — Wine Spectator
92 Points — Allen Meadows, Burghound
Domaine Clos de la Chapelle’s 2023 Meursault Premier Cru Charmes is a beautifully concentrated and exceptionally limited Chardonnay from one of the most celebrated Premier Cru vineyards in the Côte de Beaune. Combining the natural generosity of Charmes with finely structured acidity, mineral definition and an elegant oak influence, this is a refined, age-worthy white Burgundy produced in extremely small quantities.
The Place
Meursault is located in the heart of Burgundy’s Côte de Beaune, immediately south of Volnay and north of Puligny-Montrachet. Although the village has no Grand Cru vineyards, its finest Premier Crus produce some of the world’s most distinguished and longest-lived Chardonnay.
The Meursault appellation includes 19 officially classified Premier Cru climats. The best vineyards are generally situated at approximately 260 meters above sea level, with exposures ranging from east to south. Their soils are predominantly composed of Jurassic marl and marly limestone, with localized deposits of magnesium-rich limestone.
These soils and exposures allow Chardonnay to achieve exceptional ripeness while retaining the freshness, structure and mineral complexity essential to fine white Burgundy.
The Charmes Vineyard
Charmes is the largest of Meursault’s Premier Cru vineyards and one of its most famous. It lies in the southern portion of the appellation, adjoining the Premier Cru vineyards of Perrières and Puligny-Montrachet’s Les Combettes.
The vineyard is traditionally associated with broad, generous and naturally opulent wines. Charmes often displays a softer, more floral and gently honeyed personality than the firmer, more mineral-driven Perrières, while still possessing the structure and acidity required for extended aging.
Domaine Clos de la Chapelle’s parcel is situated in the lower part of the Charmes vineyard, an area that has responded particularly well to Burgundy’s increasingly warm and dry growing seasons.
The Domaine’s Parcel
Domaine Clos de la Chapelle farms only 0.125 hectare—approximately one-third of an acre—of Meursault Premier Cru Charmes. The Chardonnay vines were planted in 1950 and are now more than 70 years old.
The vineyard’s reddish-brown soil contains a high proportion of clay. This clay retains water and helps protect the old vines during hot, dry growing seasons, yet the parcel remains sufficiently well-drained to avoid excessively humid or disease-promoting conditions.
The tiny size of the holding results in extremely limited production, making this one of the domaine’s rarest white wines.
The Grape
100% Chardonnay. Chardonnay is Burgundy’s great white-wine grape and an exceptionally sensitive interpreter of place. In Meursault Charmes, it develops a combination of ripe orchard fruit, citrus, floral notes, toasted nuts and textural richness, balanced by fresh acidity and a distinct mineral undertone.
Winemaking and Aging
The grapes are harvested by hand and carefully sorted. The wine is traditionally vinified and matured in French oak barrels for approximately 14 months.
Barrel fermentation and aging contribute texture, complexity and subtle notes of toast and spice, while the wine’s natural acidity preserves freshness and definition. The oak is intended to frame the concentrated old-vine Chardonnay rather than overwhelm the character of the vineyard.
Tasting Notes
The 2023 Meursault Charmes opens with expressive aromas of ripe lemon, yellow apple, pear and white flowers, joined by notes of crushed stone, hazelnut and delicately integrated oak spice.
On the palate, the wine is silky and concentrated, with the natural breadth and generosity associated with Charmes. Ripe orchard fruit and citrus flavors are supported by energetic acidity, fine mineral tension and a subtle savory nuttiness.
Despite its richness, the wine remains linear, elegant and beautifully controlled. The finish is long and focused, carrying persistent notes of citrus, minerals and oak spice. This is a powerful yet graceful Meursault with the structure to develop considerable complexity in bottle.
Professional Ratings
94+ Points — John Gilman, View From the Cellar John Gilman awarded the 2023 Meursault Premier Cru Charmes 94+ points, placing it among the highest-rated wines from Domaine Clos de la Chapelle’s 2023 collection.
93 Points — Wine Spectator "Silky in texture and exuding lemon, apple, mineral and oak spice aromas and flavors, this white is linear and elegant. Defined by its bracing acidity, this extends on the citrusy and spicy aftertaste. Best from 2027 through 2039. 75 cases made, 48 cases imported."
92 Points — Allen Meadows, Burghound Allen Meadows awarded the 2023 Meursault Premier Cru Charmes 92 points, recognizing the wine’s quality, structure and expression of this renowned Premier Cru vineyard.
The Domaine
Domaine Clos de la Chapelle is based in Bligny-lès-Beaune and takes its name from the historic Volnay Premier Cru Clos de la Chapelle monopole. The walled vineyard was acquired by Victor Boillot in 1865 and remained in the Boillot family for nearly 150 years.
The estate entered a new chapter in 2010 when Burgundy enthusiast Mark O’Connell and his Burgundian partners acquired the domaine. Since then, the vineyard holdings have expanded carefully to include prized parcels in Volnay, Pommard, Beaune, Pernand-Vergelesses, Meursault and Corton.
The domaine remains extremely small, cultivating approximately five hectares divided among numerous individual vineyards. Its philosophy emphasizes meticulous vineyard work, hand harvesting, low yields and limited production, allowing each wine to express the character of its individual climat.
Food Pairing
This rich yet structured white Burgundy is an exceptional accompaniment to lobster, scallops, crab, turbot, halibut and sea bass. It also pairs beautifully with roast chicken, veal in cream sauce, mushroom risotto, foie gras and richly textured cheeses.
Its combination of depth, freshness and gentle nuttiness makes it particularly successful with grilled lobster, shellfish in butter or cream sauce, poultry with morels and aged Comté.
Serving and Cellaring
Serve cool but not overly chilled, ideally between 50 and 54°F. A young bottle may be opened approximately 30 minutes before serving to allow its aromas and texture to develop.
The wine may be enjoyed for its youthful fruit and energy, but its acidity, concentration and old-vine depth make it an excellent candidate for extended cellaring. Wine Spectator recommends drinking it from 2027 through 2039.
Producer: Domaine Clos de la Chapelle
Country: France
Region: Burgundy
Subregion: Côte de Beaune
Village: Meursault
Appellation: Meursault Premier Cru
Vineyard: Charmes
Classification: Premier Cru
Grape: 100% Chardonnay
Vineyard Holding: 0.125 hectare
Vine Age: Planted in 1950
Soil: Reddish-brown, clay-rich soil over Burgundy limestone
Aging: Approximately 14 months in barrel
Alcohol: 13.5%
Wine Type: Dry white wine
Bottle Size: 750ml
Domaine Clos de la Chapelle Meursault Premier Cru Charmes 2023
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