Domaine Michelot Meursault 2010

The word “rich” is relative. So we’d better qualify our use of this word. When we describe this wine as rich, we are talking lottery winner rich, Qatari rich, Bill Gates rich, Carlos Slim rich. But it is more complicated than that. There are different kinds of rich. This wine is not the lavish, over-the-top, obscene kind. Domaine Michelot’s Meursault Village is super rich, but it carries it with finesse and elegance. Soon to be featured in Forbes’ rich list and found holidaying on the French Riviera.

This is a rich and sophisticated wine that blends a few different terroirs (from south facing vines of between 10 and 60 years of age across Meursault) making it fruity and opulent but with a lovely finesse.

Domaine Michelot has been family owned for six generations. It reached its height in the 60s with the wonderful Bernard Michelot and has maintained its popularity ever since. Since 1985 Bernard’s son in law, Jean François Mestre, has been making the wine and many say that he has tightened up the Domaine. There is a finesse and elegance to the wines whilst maintaining that wonderful Meursault richness. Made up of 19 hectares, including several 1er Crus Domaine Michelot continues to go from strength to strength.

Jean François Mestre has always worked in wine. His family is from Santenay and continues to make wine whilst he married a Michelot daughter and moved to Meursalt.

The harvest is done by hand and the vines are basically organic without the certification. The harvest is done by hand. The grapes are gently pressed and the alcoholic fermentation takes place in oak barrels as does the malolactic fermentation. 25 to 35% new oak is used depending on the vintage. The wine is aged for 12 months in barrel and 1 month in vat before bottling so it can marry together.

As this wine now has a little age on it, its flavours are starting to turn into a magical combination of richness, toasted nuts and opulent fruit. It would be great as an aperitif or it goes really well with dishes that have rich creamy sauces.