Domaine Ballot-Millot, Meursault 2022

An extremely stringent form of viticulture is practiced in the vineyards, with no herbicides and minimal use of other treatments. In fact everything is now organic but he will not become certified as such. All the wines are barrel fermented, with around 25% new oak for the 1er Crus and 10% for the village wines. 

This top division 12 hectare property, based in the heart of Meursault, is run by the young and talented Charles Ballot. The Ballot & Millot families began acquiring vineyards in Meursault in the mid 17th century. When Charles’s parents married, they brought together some exceptional holdings, including extremely well situated parcels of the two finest premier crus, Perrières and Genevrières. The ages of the vines range from 30 years for Les Criots to 70 years for the Genevrières. 

Meursault Village is from 7 very different parcels, each offering their own attributes – from deep soils to rock. “Criots” is from very rocky, hard soils under Santenots and is tighter and more minerally than “Narvaux”, which comes from 3 parcels of 60, 40 and 20 year old vines.  Charles never uses bâtonnage. His Meursaults are chiselled, fine, pure and minerally, and rather “Puligny” in style.