2002 Potinet-Ampeau Meursault Charmes

Domaine Potinet-Ampeau is in Monthélie, a tiny town a few minutes drive west of Volnay. Vincent Durrieu is the fifth generation of his family to run the domaine. His grandparents were among the first winemakers in Burgundy to export to the U.S. Durrieu’s grandparents also started the practice of holding back “vins de garde” so that the domaine always has older vintages on offer. Potinet-Ampeau has long had a reputation for making wines for the long haul, meaning that they rest a relatively long time in the domaine’s extremely well-maintained cellar before release. The family owns 21.5 acres of Premier Cru and village vineyards in red and white appellations in Puligny-Montrachet, Meursault, Auxey-Duresses, Volnay, Pommard and Monthélie. The vineyards are farmed organically.

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.