Meursault Premier Cru Perrières Magnum 2023, Château de Meursault

Meursault Premier Cru Perrières Magnum 2023, Château de Meursault has long been seen as the summit of the Premiers Crus of Meursault, the one regularly said to deserve a place among the Grands Crus of the Côte de Beaune.

The name Perrières comes from the stone quarries once worked on this slope. The topsoil is thin and rests on a hard limestone slab, which limits the vigour of the vine and concentrates the grapes. Set at the top of the hillside, above Les Charmes, the climat enjoys an east to south east exposure and very efficient drainage. The wines are the most tense and the most mineral in Meursault, with a finish that suggests gunflint rather than butter.

What the critics say about this cuvée

The scores below cover the latest vintages of the cuvée, all vintages combined. The 2024 vintage scores 91/100 in Bourgogne Aujourd'hui. The 2023 was rated 96/100 by Jasper Morris, 95/100 by TWOFW, 94/100 at Bettane + Desseauve, 93/100 at the DWWA as well as by Allen Meadows, 16.5/20 in Bourgogne Aujourd'hui, and it won a gold medal at the International Wine Challenge.

Château de Meursault is one of the finest estates in the Côte de Beaune. The Moulin Foulot fief, from which it comes, dates back to the 11th century. Bought in 2012 by Olivier Halley, the estate has since expanded its vineyard: 65 hectares spread over about a hundred plots, farmed under certified organic agriculture, which yield five Grands Crus, twenty Premiers Crus and a dozen village and regional appellations. The estate sells entirely direct, and 100 % of its production comes from its own vines.

Key facts

• Origin: France, Bourgogne, Côte de Beaune
• Appellation: Meursault Premier Cru Perrières
• Estate: Château de Meursault
• Grape variety: Chardonnay 100 %
• Vintage: 2023
• Colour: White wine
• Viticulture: Certified organic agriculture
• Volume: 150 cl, magnum

Tasting notes

• Appearance: Brilliant green gold, crystalline highlights and a dense hue
• Nose: Lemon zest, damp chalk, gunflint, honeysuckle, barely toasted hazelnut
• Palate: Vertical, dense, mineral all the way through, the finish stretching out at length on a noble bitterness

Serving and cellaring

Serve this Meursault Premier Cru Perrières at 12 to 14 °C. Its cellaring potential is ten to twenty years. The magnum ages more slowly than the bottle, so allow a few years more. Keep the bottle lying down, at a stable temperature, away from light and vibration.

Food and wine pairings

Roast blue lobster, line caught sea bass in a salt crust, caviar on blinis. With a creamy dish, give it a few years to relax.

Going further

Read about Château de Meursault and its history, what a Grand Cru is in Bourgogne and the Chardonnay for the cellar worth laying down. Find all the cuvées in our Château de Meursault collection, and the rest of our Burgundy selection in the Bourgogne collection or among our white wines.

Frequently asked questions

Why is Perrières said to deserve Grand Cru rank?

The climat has never been classified, as the commune of Meursault has no Grand Cru in white. But its minerality, its length and its cellaring potential place it on the level of the great whites nearby, and its reclassification comes up regularly in discussion.

When should you open a bottle of Perrières?

It is the Meursault that asks for the most patience. Young, it seems tight and reserved. From six to eight years on it opens up and unfurls its mineral dimension, and the great vintages easily hold on for fifteen years more.

Why choose a magnum?

The magnum holds 150 cl, the equivalent of two bottles. The ratio between the volume of wine and the surface in contact with air is more favourable, which slows down the evolution and often gives fresher wines at the same age. It is also the format for a large table.

How is the bottle shipped?

Delivery is free in France on orders from 300 €. Each bottle is carefully packed and shipped with tracking.