2011 Maison L'Oree Meursault Charmes

Maison L’Orée is a negociant house created by Rajat Parr, a celebrated San Francisco sommelier, and Charles Banks, an entrepreneur and former owner of Screaming Eagle. Parr was already a well-known wine director for the Michael Mina restaurants when he started making wine in 2004 in California’s Central Coast. He has continued to collaborate with vineyard owners and winemakers in California creating numerous wines, some under the Sandhi label. He and Banks debuted their first Burgundy with a 2009 vintage and are now producing more than a dozen red and white Burgundies under the Maison L’Orée label. The estate produces Premier Cru and villages wines.

Les Charmes, at 78 acres, is Meursault’s largest Premier Cru vineyard. Like its neighboring Premier Crus, Les Genevrieres and Les Perrieres, is is south of the commune of Meursault and very close to Puligny-Montrachet. Since Meursault lacks a Grand Cru, Meursault’s reputation for excellence is based on the Premier Crus, particularly the whites. Les Charmes abuts Puligny-Montrachet. Burgundy writer Clive Coates writes that “there is an attractive, soft flowery character to a Charmes: peach blossom, delicately nutty, gently honeyed.”

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.