92 Points — Wine Spectator
89–91 Points — Jasper Morris, MW, Inside Burgundy
Domaine Clos de la Chapelle’s 2023 Meursault Cuvée Confluence is an elegant, beautifully integrated Chardonnay that brings together two neighboring vineyards and two contrasting expressions of Meursault terroir. Supple orchard fruit, ripe citrus and discreetly toasted oak are balanced by fresh acidity, oyster-shell salinity and a persistent mineral finish.
Although classified at the village level rather than Premier Cru, Cuvée Confluence is produced from carefully selected barrels originating in two distinguished Meursault lieux-dits: En Marcausse and Les Vignes Blanches. The result is a layered, harmonious white Burgundy that combines the breadth and richness associated with Meursault with impressive freshness and mineral definition.
The Place
Meursault is situated in Burgundy’s Côte de Beaune, south of Volnay and north of Puligny-Montrachet. The village is internationally celebrated for Chardonnay capable of combining generous texture, ripe fruit and subtle nuttiness with vibrant acidity and a pronounced limestone-derived mineral character.
Unlike several neighboring villages, Meursault has no Grand Cru vineyards. Nevertheless, its finest Premier Cru and village-level climats produce some of Burgundy’s most distinctive and age-worthy white wines.
The Meursault appellation includes approximately 382.64 hectares devoted to white wine, including 103.79 hectares classified as Premier Cru. Chardonnay dominates production, thriving in the area’s complex combination of limestone, marl, clay and gravelly soils.
The Meaning of Cuvée Confluence
Cuvée Confluence is a special blend of selected barrels from the domaine’s En Marcausse vineyard and Chardonnay from both younger and older vines in Les Vignes Blanches.
The name “Confluence” refers to the meeting of old and young vines, two adjoining vineyards and two distinct but complementary terroirs. Although En Marcausse and Les Vignes Blanches are contiguous, the soil composition changes noticeably where one vineyard meets the other.
The Vineyards
En Marcausse lies immediately below Les Petits Charrons on the Meursault slope. Its proximity to a break in the topography encourages natural drainage, while its higher clay content contributes body, texture and breadth to the finished wine.
Les Vignes Blanches takes its name from the pale, gravelly limestone found throughout the vineyard. These chalkier soils give the wine greater mineral tension, freshness and precision than might ordinarily be expected from this lower section of the slope.
The domaine farms approximately 0.20 hectare in En Marcausse and 0.41 hectare in Les Vignes Blanches. Cuvée Confluence is made from a selection within these holdings, bringing together the clay-rich depth of En Marcausse and the limestone-driven energy of Les Vignes Blanches.
For the 2023 vintage, Jasper Morris noted that the blend came from the upper portions of Vignes Blanches and Marcausses. A section previously planted to Pinot Noir has been top-grafted to Chardonnay, further strengthening the domaine’s white-wine holdings in this area.
The Grape: 100% Chardonnay.
Chardonnay is particularly sensitive to variations in soil, elevation and exposure. In the limestone and clay soils of Meursault, it can produce wines with generous orchard-fruit flavors, citrus freshness, hazelnut complexity and a distinct mineral or saline undertone.
In Cuvée Confluence, Chardonnay expresses both sides of the vineyard blend: the rounded texture and ripeness provided by clay-rich En Marcausse and the citrus-driven freshness and chalky tension contributed by Les Vignes Blanches.
Viticulture and Winemaking
Domaine Clos de la Chapelle’s vineyards are certified organic and are cultivated according to biodynamic principles. The soils are worked regularly, chemical pesticides and fertilizers are avoided, and yields are carefully controlled to encourage concentration and a clear expression of each individual site.
The grapes are harvested by hand and carefully sorted. Vinification is conducted with minimal intervention, allowing the contrasting personalities of En Marcausse and Les Vignes Blanches to remain visible in the finished wine.
Fermentation and maturation in oak barrels contribute texture and complexity, together with restrained notes of toast, vanilla and spice. The oak is integrated into the wine rather than dominating its fruit and mineral character.
Tasting Notes
The 2023 Cuvée Confluence opens with aromas of ripe peach, yellow apple and pear, accompanied by citrus peel, white flowers, toasted hazelnut and a delicate oak influence.
The palate is supple, juicy and harmonious, with flavors of peach, apple tart and ripe citrus framed by oyster-shell salinity and finely integrated toasted oak. The clay-rich component contributes roundness and depth, while the limestone soils bring acidity, mineral tension and focus.
Subtle notes of vanilla, butterscotch and hazelnut emerge toward the finish. Despite its generous fruit and texture, the wine remains fresh and balanced, concluding with impressive harmony, mineral persistence and length.
Professional Ratings
92 Points — Wine Spectator: This beautifully integrated white features peach, apple tart and oyster shell flavors framed with toasty oak. Supple and juicy, this ends with echoes of vanilla and butterscotch. Shows excellent harmony and length.
89–91 Points — Jasper Morris, MW, Inside Burgundy
Barrel Sample: The Cuvée Confluence comes from the top of Vignes Blanches and Marcausses, where the pinot part has now been topgrafted to chardonnay (which will really deliver from 2025). Mid lemon yellow. A pleasing fruit on the cusp between white and yellow, decent acidity, some length, not quite the flow which gave me such pleasure in the Vignes Blanches. Barrel Sample: 89-91
The Domaine
Domaine Clos de la Chapelle is a small, historic Côte de Beaune estate based in Bligny-lès-Beaune and closely associated with the renowned village of Volnay. It takes its name from the Volnay Premier Cru Clos de la Chapelle monopole, a walled vineyard situated opposite the historic chapel of Notre Dame de Pitié.
The historic property was acquired in 2011 and renamed Domaine Clos de la Chapelle in honor of its flagship vineyard. Today, the estate farms approximately five hectares divided among 16 individual terroirs in Volnay, Pommard, Beaune, Pernand-Vergelesses, Meursault and Corton.
The vineyards are certified organic and farmed according to biodynamic principles. Grapes are harvested by hand, yields are kept low and intervention in the cellar is minimized. Total estate production averages only approximately 1,800 cases annually, making each individual bottling highly limited.
Food Pairing
Cuvée Confluence is an excellent partner for roast chicken, sole meunière, halibut with brown butter, sea bass, scallops, lobster ravioli and other shellfish preparations.
It also pairs beautifully with creamy mushroom dishes, risotto, pork tenderloin, veal in a light cream sauce and mature cheeses such as Comté or Gruyère.
Serving and Cellaring
The domaine recommends serving this wine at approximately 16°C, or 61°F. Slightly cooler service will emphasize its citrus and mineral character, while allowing the wine to warm gradually in the glass will reveal additional texture, hazelnut and oak-spice complexity.
The 2023 is expressive enough to enjoy young with a little air, but its acidity and mineral structure should allow it to develop additional richness and integration over several years in the cellar.
Producer: Domaine Clos de la Chapelle
Country: France
Region: Burgundy
Subregion: Côte de Beaune
Village: Meursault
Appellation: Meursault AOC
Classification: Village
Cuvée: Cuvée Confluence
Vineyard Sources: En Marcausse and Les Vignes Blanches
Source Parcels: Approximately 0.61 hectare combined
Grape: 100% Chardonnay
Soils: Clay-rich soils in En Marcausse; pale, gravelly limestone in Les Vignes Blanches
Farming: Certified organic; biodynamic principles
Harvest: Hand harvested
Wine Type: Dry white wine
Bottle Size: 750ml
Domaine Clos de la Chapelle Meursault Cuvée Confluence 2023
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