Visit Domaine Michelot – tasting the 2017s from bottle

Domaine Michelot is a well-known estate in Meursault, producing high-quality wines from a range of fine vineyards. It is a relatively large estate – 19 ha – yet strangely I never visited Michelot before.

The estate is managed by the Mestre family, Jean-François Mestre taking over from his father-in-law, Bernard Michelot (1926 – 2016). Now Jean-Francois’s son Nicolas Mestre has the reins as winemaker, and he is running a modern and quite prominent estate on the southern outskirts of Meursault.

The style of the 2017s …

The Michelot style is elegant and quite classic; wines made with a steady hand and a good eye for the qualities of a well-made Meursault. There is an element of “old-school” Meursault in these wines, but without the pitfalls of that generous and voluminous style.

The wines are pure, focused and detailed without being filigreed or structurally powerful. These are wines with a clear hedonistic element – they simply drink well and have a lovely, classic Meursault character.

The visit included a tasting of some of the 2018s from small and large barrels and amphora eggs – an interesting tour of the cooper’s art which helped illustrate the qualities of the 2018s.

To be honest, tasting the same wine from different casks can be daunting and even confusing; it is not the ideal situation from which to make notes and draw conclusions. That said, I did prefer the style of the wines in the bigger barrels.

Luckily we also had the opportunity to taste the 2017s from bottle. Let me run down the notes of these classical wines.

Tasting the 2017s from Michelot

As mentioned, we had the opportunity to sit down in the beautiful tasting room to taste a range of the 2017s … a delightful lineup!

Domaine Michelot Bourgogne blanc 2017

The Bourgogne blanc is a generous and rich wine – a bit dense, yet not over the top. The elevage is done mainly in big casks, giving the wine an airier structure and a refined expression. A good glass with fine appeal.

(Drink from 2019) – Good – (86p) – Tasted 04/07/2019

Domaine Michelot Meursault 2017

Michelot makes many different lieu-dit Meursaults, and this is therefore the standard village. Textbook Meursault, with generous fruit; rather vivid and expressive. Drink with no regrets.

(Drink from 2019) – Good – (87p) – Tasted 04/07/2019

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Domaine Michelot Santenay Gravieres 2017

The Santenay Gravieres is intense and expressive. Quite Meursault-like – with a salty Santenay mineral note giving it a fine spicy hint. A delightful glass without breaking the bank or the point scale.

(Drink from 2022) – Good+ – (87 – 88p) – Tasted 04/07/2019

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Domaine Michelot Meursault Clos St. Felix 2017

The Clos St. Felix is quite a step up from the regular Meursault, in an expansive and slightly denser way. It has an old-school presence, yet it’s still vivid and pure. From the lower vineyards below the village; this does show in the wine, lacking perhaps a bit compared to the mighty Grands Charrons.

(Drink from 2022) – Very Good – (88p) – Tasted 04/07/2019

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Domaine Michelot Meursault Grands Charrons 2017

The Meursault Grands Charrons is my favourite in the lineup – and has been awarded a Winehog prize. It’s a focused and vivacious wine – very mineral – expressing the greatness of the Grands Charrons terroir. Impressive structure and focus.

(Drink from 2026) – Fine – (91p) – Tasted 04/07/2019

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