2018 Domaine Chanson Pere et Fils Meursault Burgundy 750 ml

Centuries of Meursault’s fame are justified by the aromas alone. Beautiful notes of Cox’s Orange Pippin apples, fresh pears, toasted whole-grains, and exotic spices swirl and captivate, introducing a palate that combines orchard fruit, hazelnuts, and a rippling acidity. This is Chardonnay at its most serious and seductive.

It’s also no wonder why, when we find a Meursault like the 2018 from Chanson Père & Fils—which boasts all of the above but not the exorbitant price—we cannot wait to share it with our members.

Made by Jean-Pierre Confuron—who’s been named Winemaker of the Year by France’s prestigious La Revue du Vin de France—under the auspices of Champagne house Bollinger, there’s a prodigious level of winemaking talent here. 

This 2018 is sourced from four separate vineyards: Two from around the town itself provide weight and texture, while two sites from higher up the slope help give the wine an undercurrent of minerality and finesse.

After harvest, the grapes pass through a tunnel that quickly chills them while limiting oxygen exposure. They’re then gently pressed using a fractional, Champagne-style protocol. The result is juice of exceptional precision and finesse, which is then fermented and put into barrels with no more than 20% new oak, allowing the wine to retain a vibrant, pure-fruit character.

The domaine’s cellar, where this 2018 was aged, is actually a medieval tower. The stone walls are 26 feet thick, making them basically impenetrable—and, more importantly, a nice, cool place to store Chardonnay.

Another good place to store brilliant Meursault? Your cellar. This wine is excellent now, but will grow in complexity and depth over the next half-decade.