Domaine Buisson-Charles Meursault La Vigne de 1945, Cote de Beaune, France 2023
Several years ago, Michel Buisson, the third-generation vigneron of Buisson-Charles, turned over the reins of this 6.3 hectare domaine to his daughter Catherine and son-in-law Patrick Essa. They, in turn, have now handed them to their son Louis, who vinified the 2019 vintage. Under Patrick's leadership, the house has reached new heights, producing wines that show beautiful balance; they are concentrated and rich, yet pure and expressive, featuring both the crystalline purity and opulence of Meursault. Vines are tended organically and the wines see no chaptalization or acidification or SO2 added during vinification. They are bottled without fining or filtration.
Louis has followed in his father's footsteps, espousing the estate's philosophy that many Meursault are harvested too early and, as a result, are too lean, highly sulfured, and one-dimensional. Not only the picking dates, but also other growing milestones, such as pruning, are later than most of their peers, with the goal of extending the overall vegetative cycle. Following these methods, Bouisson-Charles' finished wines are richer in style than most, while also possessing incredible acidity and tension.
From Les Pellans, just below Charmes 1er Cru and adjacent to Puligny-Montrachet. Vines planted in 1945 from selection massale from pre-phylloxera vines. The three-meter-deep marl and clay holds water well. This has been a separate bottling from the VV cuvée since the 2015 vintage. Pressed and then gravity fed into barrel for fermentation with native yeast. Aged 12 months in barrel (20% new), then racked and aged another six months in tank.
