Xavier Monnot is a leading producer in Meursault whose winemaking style emphasizes purity of fruit, elegance, and complexity. Xavier can trace his mother’s ancestors, the Monniers, back to 1723, with six generations of winegrowing. Xavier took over the estate in 1994 after completing his oenological studies and began replanting parcels with a combination of selection massale from old vines and new clones. Prior to the release of the 2005 vintage, the property was known as Domaine René Monnier — Xavier’s grandfather’s label. The Corton-Charlemagne sits at the highest portion of the Hill of Corton, on steep southwest-facing slopes at altitudes between 280 and 330 meters, on clay and limestone soils facing the valleys of both Pernand-Vergelesses and Aloxe-Corton.

The white grapes are lightly crushed and very lightly settled before fermentation starts in barrel, with plenty of lees stirring continuing at a reduced level after malolactic fermentation. The vineyards are ploughed up to a dozen times per year, with the vines pruned long and deleafed in the fruiting zone using jets of compressed air. Xavier uses 25% new wood for village wines and 30% for premier cru — the Grand Cru receives proportionally more. These are bold wines, fully ripe but with admirable tension.

Aromas of pineapple, almond, citrus, and vanilla, well-textured on the palate, with nice citrus pith bitterness at the finish. Bold structure and concentration.