Drink enough Meursault and you start to detect the distinct personality of each vineyard. Perrières is as direct, linear, and intense as a math Ph.D. Les Charmes has the charm, vivacity, and acidic verve of an Upper East Side socialite. Les Genevrières is a measured balance of restraint and opulence—a true French blueblood.

When it comes to finding value, Burghounds look first to Les Chevalières, one of the greatest lieux-dits in Meursault. The site is esteemed for its ability to produce stunning wines that equal those nearby Premier Cru plots at half the price.

Counting Luchets, Meix Chavaux, and Tesson as famous neighbors north of the village, Les Chevalières is home to 40-year-old vines and shallow, stony soils with a limestone substrate. Xavier Monnot's skill in handling the vineyard means he presses the grapes gently before fermenting and aging the wine in 25% new, 350-liter French oak barrels. Those are about 1/3rd larger than standard barriques, so the impact of the oak is more elegant—it imparts structure and grace notes without overwhelming the wine.

The result expresses a beautiful combination of deep orchard fruit like baked quince and succulent white peaches, married to an almond-cream richness and a chalky minerality that keeps everything balanced and precise. It's a brilliant bottle of Burgundy.

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