Five kilometres south of Beaune, nestled at the foot of the Côte de Beaune, the village of Meursault is the most illustrious name in Burgundy Chardonnay. Its white wines — rich, buttery, long on the palate — are sought after worldwide. Yet Meursault does not have a single Grand Cru in its stable: its nineteen Premier Crus serve as its patents of nobility, and the best among them — Perrières, Genevrières, Charmes — are regularly considered unofficial Grand Crus.
Climats of Meursault: three jewels of the Côte de Beaune
The term climat refers to a precisely delimited vineyard plot with its own soil, exposure and history. Meursault has nineteen classified Premier Crus, but three reign supreme.
Perrières is the most prestigious. Its name evokes the old stone quarries — and the wine’s minerality, taut, vertical, with rare length, confirms it. As early as the 1861 classification, Perrières was listed as a tête de cuvée. Many believe it deserves Grand Cru status.
Genevrières takes its name from juniper. Situated at 240-280 metres altitude on iron-rich red soils, it produces a rounder, more elegant wine with notes of candied citrus and exotic spices. A balance of power and finesse.
Charmes — the largest of the three (~31 ha) — covers the lower slopes south of the village. Charmes-Dessus (the upper part) is considered superior to Charmes-Dessous. The wines are generous, honeyed, nutty, with an acidic backbone that allows them to age ten years or more.
These three climats, along with Les Poruzots, Les Bouchères, Les Gouttes d’Or, form the beating heart of the appellation. All are planted to Chardonnay on Comblanchien limestone and Jurassic marl soils that give the wine its mineral signature.
The vineyard by the numbers
The Meursault appellation (AOC since 1937) covers 381 hectares of white vines, including 107 hectares of Premier Cru. Annual production is around 17,500 hectolitres — roughly 2.3 million bottles, almost exclusively white.
Red wine exists but is a rarity: barely ten hectares planted to Pinot Noir, often claimed under the neighbouring Volnay-Santenots appellation. The famous Santenots are actually located on Meursault’s territory but produce red wine under the Volnay name — a quirk of Burgundy wine law that insiders find amusing.
The domaines behind the reputation
Meursault is home to some of Burgundy’s greatest domaines. Domaine des Comtes Lafon, led by Dominique and now Léa Lafon, owns legendary parcels in Perrières, Charmes-Dessus and Genevrières, as well as the Clos de la Barre monopole (Premier Cru). The wines are ample, precise, with exceptional ageing potential.
Coche-Dury is an almost mystical name: its Meursault (especially Rougeots and Perrières) are renowned for their depth and ability to age without premox. Bottles fetch astronomical prices on the secondary market.
Domaine Roulot, run by Jean-Marc Roulot (actor and winemaker), produces wines of rare elegance. Its Meursault Premier Cru Les Tessons, adjacent to a Pierre Morey parcel, is a benchmark.
Pierre Morey, historic estate manager of Domaine Leflaive (1988-2008), has farmed biodynamically since 1997 — one of the first in Burgundy. His daughter Anne Morey continues the tradition.
Château de Meursault, with its 65 hectares across village and Premier Cru appellations, is the largest estate in the village. Certified organic from the 2022 vintage, it offers tours and tastings year-round, including the prestigious 9 exceptional wines tasting.
The château and village heritage
Château de Meursault is a historic wine estate whose cellars, carved out in the 14th and 16th centuries, rank among the finest in Burgundy. The building itself, surrounded by vines, now houses modern winemaking facilities and a tasting trail called Forêt Gourmande that raises awareness about agroecology.
Beyond the château, the village holds several treasures. Saint-Nicolas Church, a 15th-century Gothic building, dominates the rooftops of Meursault with its tall openwork spire. The town hall occupies a former 14th-century fortified castle with glazed tile roofs — made famous by Gérard Oury’s 1966 film La Grande Vadrouille. Down below, the 12th-century leprosarium, magnificently restored, now houses the tourist office.
La Paulée de Meursault and the Trois Glorieuses
Every year on the third weekend of November, Burgundy comes alive with the Trois Glorieuses. Saturday: the Chevaliers du Tastevin banquet at Clos de Vougeot. Sunday: the famous Hospices de Beaune auction. Monday: La Paulée de Meursault — a monumental lunch at Château de Meursault where every guest brings their finest bottles.
The tradition dates back to the Middle Ages, when Cistercian monks shared a harvest-end meal with their workers. It was revived in 1923 by Jules Lafon, winemaker and mayor of Meursault. Today, around 700 guests sit down for hours of sharing, singing and tasting in a uniquely warm atmosphere.
Meursault on the Route des Grands Crus
An essential stop on the Route des Grands Crus (60 km of classified vineyards from Dijon to Santenay), Meursault is also an ideal base for exploring the Côte de Beaune on foot or by bike. The Voie des Vignes — a dedicated cycle path — connects Meursault to neighbouring villages (Puligny-Montrachet, Volnay, Pommard).
Thomas Jefferson, US ambassador to France and future president, ordered a batch of Meursault Gouttes d’Or in 1787: “it is the one I prefer,” he wrote. Two centuries later, the verdict has not changed.
Practical information
The tourist office, housed in the leprosarium (Place de l’Hôtel de Ville, 21190 Meursault, +33 3 80 21 25 90), offers hiking maps, bike rental and the Accueil Vélo label. Several domaines welcome visitors by appointment. Tastings at Château de Meursault are available without booking for standard options.
Where to stay and taste
The village has several charming bed and breakfasts at winemakers’ homes as well as self-catering apartments such as M comme Meursault. For a full experience, Château de Meursault offers tasting packages from the ESTIVALE (introductory) to PRESTIGE (9 great wines in the historic cellars).
Best recent vintages: 2020, 2019, 2017, 2015, 2014. Meursault wines are served between 12 and 14 °C and can be kept for 3 to 10 years for a village wine, 10 to 15 years for a Premier Cru.
Further reading
The Meursault appellation fact sheet on vins-bourgogne.fr provides full technical specifications. For visits, Château de Meursault publishes its offerings online.
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