Wine Advisor
Xavier Monnot, Meursault Les Chevalieres 2022
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
The 2022 Meursault Les Chevalières is matured in 25% new oak 350-liter barrels in order to reduce the wood impact. It is taut and focused on the nose, quite understated at first, with touches of almond and hazelnut. The palate is well-balanced, with impressive concentration on the entry. Quite spicy on the mid-palate with tangy marmalade and ginger, this fans out in a pleasing fashion towards the finish.
About the Producer
Domaine Xavier Monnot is a 42 acre estate in Meursault with vineyards stretching from Beaune to Maranges in Burgundy's Côte de Beaune. Sixty percent of the Domaine's production is white with holdings in Monthelie, Meursault, Chassagne-Montrachet, and Puligny-Montrachet. Important white wine premier crus include Meursault Charmes, Chassagne-Montrachet En Remilly, and Puligny-Montrachet Les Folatières. The remaining 40% of Xavier's production is in red with climats spread across four villages: Beaune, Pommard, Volnay, and Maranges. Red premier crus include Beaune Les Cent-Vignes, Beaune Les Toussaints, Volnay Clos des Chênes, and the monopole Maranges Clos de La Fussière. Xavier believes in maintaining an average vine age of 30 to 40 years and practices lutte raisonnée (“reasoned struggle”). After hand-harvesting, Chardonnay is lightly crushed by foot before pressing. Alcoholic fermentation takes place in barrels using indigenous yeasts. During barrel aging, the wines undergo full malolactic fermentation and bâtonnage occurs at the end of the alcoholic fermentation. Pinot Noir is usually destemmed, except in warmer years when up to 20% of stems may be included, and native yeasts are used for primary fermentation in stainless-steel tanks. After four to five days of cold maceration, Xavier uses a combination of pump-over and punch-down for extraction. After pressing, the wines are transferred to barrels for malolactic fermentation for 12 to 14 months. Regional-level wines receive 15-20% percent new oak, village-level wines receive 25% new, and premier crus 30-35% percent.
