What is Meursault wine?
Quick answer
Meursault is a Côte de Beaune appellation in Burgundy, world-famous for producing some of the richest, most opulent Chardonnay white wines anywhere. The vineyard covers about 395 hectares at village level, including 19 Premier Cru climats totalling roughly 132 hectares. Meursault wines are defined by their broad, buttery style with aromas of hazelnut, fresh butter, and citrus, all underpinned by deep marl-limestone soils that give the wine its signature enveloping texture.
Detailed answer
Meursault sits at the heart of the Côte de Beaune, between Volnay to the north and Puligny-Montrachet to the south, and it is Burgundy's largest white-wine commune. Unlike its neighbours Puligny and Chassagne, Meursault has no Grand Cru vineyards — yet its best Premier Cru sites, especially Les Perrières, are widely considered Grand Cru calibre by critics and collectors alike.
Three historic climats define the Meursault style and form the so-called "three stars." Les Perrières (13.7 ha), named for its stony, quarry-like limestone soil, produces the most mineral and taut wines, often compared to Puligny for their precision. Les Genevrières (16.5 ha), on deeper marl, offers a floral, elegant expression. Les Charmes (31.1 ha), the largest climat, delivers opulent, immediately seductive wines with that trademark creamy texture.
The soils — white Jurassic marl from the Oxfordian stage — are deeper and more clay-rich than those of Puligny, and this geological difference largely explains why Meursault tastes so different from its neighbour. The clay and marl give Meursault its generous body, buttery richness, and hazelnut character. Vineyard altitude ranges from 230 to 360 metres, with the Premier Cru sweet spot between 250 and 300 metres on east-southeast-facing slopes.
While Meursault is virtually synonymous with white wine, about 5% of production is red Pinot Noir, mostly from plots bordering Volnay. Maximum yields are 50 hl/ha for village whites and 48 hl/ha for Premier Cru.
Producer quality matters enormously here. Reference domaines include Comtes Lafon, Roulot, Coche-Dury (whose wines command Grand Cru prices), Arnaud Ente, Pierre Morey, and Rémi Jobard. Village-level wines typically range from 30 to 60 euros, Premier Cru from 80 to 300 euros, with cult producers breaking through the ceiling entirely.
| Premier Cru | Area (ha) | Character | Dominant Soil |
|---|---|---|---|
| Les Perrières | 13.7 | Mineral, taut, long | Limestone, stony rubble |
| Les Charmes | 31.1 | Opulent, creamy, seductive | Deep marl |
| Les Genevrières | 16.5 | Floral, elegant, complex | Calcareous marl |
| Les Gouttes d'Or | 5.3 | Rich, golden, exotic | Clay marl |
| Le Porusot | 4.5 | Lively, saline, mineral | Limestone, scree |