2013 Michel Bouzereau & Fils Meursault Perrières

Michel Bouzereau et Fils in Meursault has been in the Bouzereau family for seven generations. Michel ran the estate until the mid-1990s, when his son Jean-Baptiste joined the family venture full-time. Today Jean-Baptiste is in charge and the estate has grown to 27 acres with parcels in Meursault, Puligny-Montrachet, Pommard, Volnay and Beaune. Most of the wines are Premier Cru and 85% are white. Grapes are harvested by hand.

Les Perrieres is 34-acre Premier Cru vineyard in Meursault, in Burgundy’s Cote de Beaune. The vineyard includes several sub parcels. They are the 2.4-acre monopole Clos des Perrieres, which belongs to Domaine Albert Grivault, and Les Perrieres Dessous. Because Les Perrieres is in southern Meursault next to Puligny, the Les Perrieres Meursaults are considered to have more minerality than other Meursaults. Burgundy writer Clive Coates has noted that “Perrieres is perhaps the most elegant and persistent of the premier crus. At its best, it is positively brilliant…” Since Meursault lacks a Grand Cru, Meursault’s reputation for excellence is based on the Premier Crus, particularly the whites.

This white variety originated in Burgundy, but is now grown around the world. Its flexibility to thrive in many regions translates to wide flavor profile in the market. Chardonnay is commonly used in making Champagne and sparkling wines.