Domaine Henri Germain Meursault 1er Cru Charmes 2020

Charmes is the broadest of the Meursault premiers crus, and the Germain holding is made up of several parcels, most of them planted more than thirty-five years ago.

Charmes lies on the Puligny side of Meursault, below Perrières and Genevrières, on deeper soils fed by limestone scree washed down the slope. It is the largest of the village's premiers crus and typically gives a rounder, more open wine than its neighbours, though the better parcels keep plenty of drive. Domaine Henri Germain has been in Meursault since 1973; Jean-François Germain farms the seven hectares now, with his daughter Lucie beside him since 2018, and about three-quarters of the production is white. The vines are ploughed, nothing is sprayed on the ground, and picking is by hand at low yields. Fermentations are cool and slow, running for months, malolactic comes late, and the wine then sits on its lees without racking for twenty-two months in 228-litre barrels from Damy, Seguin-Moreau and Rousseau, with new oak held to twenty to twenty-five per cent at most. Fining and filtration are the exception rather than the rule.

Approachable from two to three years and worth ten or more. Serve at 10-12°C with roast chicken, scallops or a Gruyère tart.

*Every effort is made to ensure the current vintage is accurate; however, variations can occur. If you are after a specific vintage, please contact us prior to ordering.