2016 Meursault, Les Genevrières, 1er Cru, Domaine Darviot-Perrin, 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.

The domaine was created by Didier Darviot in 1989 with his wife Geneviève, née Perrin, whose family is the source of many of the vineyards. This is a meticulous producer with fine, pure, precisely focussed wines of both colours. Though based in Monthélie, the core of the domaine rotates around holdings in Meursault, including 1ers crus Charmes, Genevrières and Perrières, Chassagne-Montrachet including 1ers crus Blanchots-Dessus (white) and Bondues (red) and Volnay, including 1ers crus La Gigotte and Santenots,. There is also a very good village bottling of Volnay Les Blanches. Jasper Morris MW, Burgundy Wine Director and author of the award-winning Inside Burgundy comprehensive handbook.