Domaine Rougeot Meursault 1er Cru Charmes 2020

Domaine Rougeot is a six-generation family estate based in Meursault, today run by Marc Rougeot and his son Pierre-Henri — whose return to the domaine in 2010 quietly transformed what was already a serious address into one of the most compelling producers in the village. Pierre-Henri's minimal intervention, low-sulphur approach effortlessly balances a natural wine philosophy with traditional Burgundian technique to create wines with energy and balance — the vineyards farmed organically, each individual terroir bottled separately, often with both a small-sulphur addition bottling and a zero-sulphur version. The approach to the Charmes reflects Marc's conviction perfectly: the higher the appellation rank, the less work is required in the winery. From 50 to 55 year old vines on the south side of Meursault near Puligny, on limestone and marl with ideal morning sun exposure — the parcel harvested by hand into small boxes to minimise oxidation, whole-cluster pressed, cold settled for two days, fermented with indigenous yeasts, then aged 18 months in 20% new oak without bâtonnage.

Les Charmes is known as Meursault's most elegant wine — the attack round and full-bodied with great weight, the acidity arriving quickly to clean the palate and leave a complex bouquet of flavours, the nose powerful and capable of delivering emotion before a drop has been tasted. Profound gold in the glass, with a very complex palate of almond, pear and fresh apricot — ample, full-bodied and rich with a very long finish. New wave Meursault in the best sense — tension over fatness, but still with a richness of fruit that typifies the village at its finest.