For those of you who are less familiar with Meursault, it is one of the most famous villages in the world dedicated exclusively to the production of white wine from the Chardonnay varietal. Depending on where a vineyard is situated around the village, wines are classified as either Bourgogne Blanc, Meursault Villages or Meursault Premier Cru, in ascending order. Although the village does not boast a Grand Cru within its borders, it is touted as one of the most dependable appellation in terms of consistent quality, all the way down to the lowest classification. Today’s offer is from vineyards located at the bottom of the slope adjacent to the village. So, it is classified as Bourgogne Blanc, which is the lowest classification. What makes this wine unique is that half of the vineyard site could technically be labeled as Meursault itself and the vines classified Bourgogne Blanc are literally meters from the vines designated as Meursault. Boundary lines were historically drawn in this area to reflect distinct terroir and provide a classification system, but oftentimes these antiquated demarcation lines exclude neighboring fruit of equal quality. Many vineyards that fall outside of the Meursault AOC, and are classified as Bourgogne Blanc, produce phenomenal fruit and today's wine is a perfect example. One quick brush with the bouquet of this wine will convince you of its lineage and assure you the quality found in the bottle easily exceeds the price.

 

Domaine Bernard Bonin is a family-owned winery located just south of the historic village of Meursault. A recent discovery of an importer and friend of mine, Bernard Bonin wines are crafted in an incredibly classic style. They choose to harvest earlier than most, which delivers an amazing freshness to the wine. Nicolas Bernard and Veronique Bonin are a husband and wife team who have been tending vines and crafting beautiful wine in Burgundy since 1998. Their traditional viticulture practices are closely akin to biodynamic practices, including the method of respecting the phases of the moon when tending vines and crafting wine in the cellar. As is fairly traditional in Burgundy, Bernard and Bonin intervene as little as possible, which results in a pure reflection of unique vintage and terroir. This wine is aged roughly 15-18 months in predominantly neutral oak with occasional lees stirring, which lends creamy aromatics, a characteristic lovers of Meursault have come to expect, to their wine. Wines like the 2012 Bourgogne Blanc make my job uncomplicated; when I encounter a classic wine like this for under $30, I rest easy.