Tasting in Meursault
If you stay in Meursault it is hard to choose where to taste your wines. If you stay at a winery the first pick is easy, but what then? Almost every inhabitant of Meursault is a wine producer, it seems, and the Hachette Guide has so many addresses, but which winery is really worth the visit? It is just a matter of trying.

The discovery
The discovery during our visit to Meursault is La maison Demessey which originate makes wine in the Mâconnais with Chateau de Messey in Ozenay, later in the Cote Chalonnaise with Domaine Belleville Rully in the Côte de Beaune to the Manor Murisaltien in Meursault. Marc Dumont is the ‘propriétaire récoltant' meaning he is owner and winemaker (reaper), but in the directories I read that the Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes are purchased at times when their own vineyards do not produce enough. At the time of my visit to Le Manoir Murisaltien in Meursault relatively few wines were available on temperature because the growth chamber was emptied just before the Expo in Bordeaux (the Vacu Vin wine cooler has apparently not been discovered ...). Yet I was pleasantly surprised by the quality.

The tasting list
1.Demessey Santenay 'Sous Roche' 2008, Côte de Beaune, Burgundy. A white Burgundy (Chardonnay =) of the vineyard ‘Sous la Roche’ in the wine village Santenay. The vineyard is next to a premier cru vineyard, but according to me is at the same level. 30% of the wine is aged in new French oak, it has beautiful wood tones, but is still powerful. Aromas of toast and grapefruit are reflected in the taste that makes me smile of happiness by his balance and strength.

2.Domaine Belleville Mercurey 2009 Monthelon makes me smile again. This wine has the scent of a red Burgundy and smells like a stable when it is hot in the background it gives a hint of red fruit. Serve the wine cooler and the fruit is more forward ... The taste is light and with quite powerful tannineus (medium body). A red Burgundy to my heart.

3.Domaine Belleville Rully 2009, Cote Chalonnaise, Burgundy. The smell is roughly equivalent to the Mercurey Monthelon, but the taste somewhat higher in acidity and less tannineus.

The after party
The party will really begin when you are at home again, there the wine should still be as excellent as at your holiday. How often it does not happen a wine is better at the winery then  than back home. This is what we have taken back:

- Mercurey rouge Monthelon 2009 (tasted again at home and still great)
- Sous la Roche Santenay 2008 (tasted again at home and still great)
- St. Aubin Le Ban 2004 (another surprise)
- Santenay premier cru Beaurepaire 2002 (tasted in Delft and very high in acids, may become worse, but there is a second chance bottle)
- Crémant de Bourgogne (and tasted just as good as the best Champagnes)

Gîtes / Guest Room
It is probably a must to stay in the cottages at Domaine Demessey. On the website they look very romantic and there are great wines at hand ... More about the gîtes

This review is coming from the blog Smaakboutique.