No village in Burgundy has been more exciting in the last decade than Meursault.

Although there are no Grand Crus in Meursault, some of the most coveted and expensive white Burgundies hail from the village. But, as in many regions that have experienced a surge of interest, there are still opportunities to be found, if you know where to look.

Enter Xavier Monnot, who we’ll stake as one of Meursault’s leading producers. Xavier Monnot is still flying under the radar, but we know that’s changing because we waited five years between allocations until last summer. As we’ve noted before, availability always disappears right before pricing explodes.

And now, into this mix, there’s a new bottling from Monnot: an exceptional entry from the Coteaux Bourguignons appellation. Unlike many wines at this price (or labeled with a regional AOC), this is a single-vineyard bottling, from Le Pré de Denise. Monnot carefully farms its clay-limestone soils as he would his Premier and Grand Crus, and the site excelled in 2023.

The 2023 Burgundy vintage produced an exceptional crop of white wines that show richness without excess. After a tumultuous spring and a hot, dry summer that forced vines to draw on deep reserves of water, the grapes were harvested as summer transitioned to fall. After a careful harvest and gentle pressing, Monnot aged this wine in a delicate 15% new oak to preserve its fresh, clean, beautifully balanced character.

Given that most of the Xavier Monnot bottlings we’ve had the chance to get our hands on go for well north of $100, this is an exceptional opportunity to try a white Burgundy from a master. Enjoy!

About Côteaux Bourguignons