2013 Meursault, Blagny, 1er Cru, Remoissenet Père & Fils, Burgundy

Chardonnay is often seen as the king of white wine grapes and one of the most widely planted in the world It is suited to a wide variety of soils, though it excels in soils with a high limestone content as found in Champagne, Chablis, and the Côte D`Or. Burgundy is Chardonnay's spiritual home and the best White Burgundies are dry, rich, honeyed wines with marvellous poise, elegance and balance. They are unquestionably the finest dry white wines in the world. Chardonnay plays a crucial role in the Champagne blend, providing structure and finesse, and is the sole grape in Blanc de Blancs.

Remoissenet Père et Fils was founded in Burgundy in 1877, and was established in a 14thcentury building in Beaune. In recent years, the company was run by larger-than-life Roland Remoissenet for around 30 years, before it was sold and taken over by a consortium including the Milstein brothers from the USA, Halpern Enterprises of Toronto and Louis Jadot, with Bernard Répolt, veteran of managing several other Beaune houses, in charge. The business is on the lookout for vineyards to acquire. In the years before the UK joined the EEC there were some intriguing cuvées which were understood to be the surplus production of grand wines under simpler noms de plume. I remember for example some Bourgogne Rouge, Cuvée du Cardinal Richelieu from I think 1972, which may or may not have had an affinity with Richebourg.   The company owns 2.5 hectares of Beaune premier crus, including Bressandes, Marconnets and Grèves, but their stock is solidified by wines obtained from their négociant business, and the Montrachet vines of Baron Thénard, whom they represent.   In addition to the annual harvest, a few extra bottles are sold each year that were residing in the cellars when the estate was sold. These ancient bottles are considered rarities and great collectors’ items, and at the time of purchase there were around 1 million of them. Jasper Morris MW, Burgundy Wine Director and author of the award-winning Inside Burgundy comprehensive handbook.