Lou Dumont Meursault | 2022

This is lights-out Chardonnay from Lou Dumont, a top-notch micro-négociant with an unconventional Burgundian wine story. Japanese sommelier Koji Nakada left Tokyo in 1996 and moved to Beaune to study oenology. His first task was to learn French. So, he enrolled in French class in Dijon, where his teacher was Korean expatriate, Jae Hwa Park. Koji and Jae dated, then married, forming Lou Dumont in 2000. The name is a tribute to their goddaughter, "Lou," and the nostalgia of their hometown mountains, "Dumont." The style of Lou Dumont is fierce and charming, made with a minimalist touch — limited punch downs and punch overs, natural yeasts, low sulfur, and unique Jupilles forest oak barrels renowned for tight grain and low-impact of wood flavor. The Meursault, sourced from Les Millerandes and Les Pelles vineyards, is fermented in cask at low temperature, followed by aging 18 months in 70% new barrels and one month in stainless steel tanks before bottling. The aromatics are hedonistic; grilled hazelnuts, savory chestnuts, and lemony dew drops suck you into the glass. Then, the palate turns a 180, surprising the senses with high-wire acidity and icy summer lime. Intense, ballsy, light and lean, all at the same time, you'll want the whole bottle, just for yourself. ~Allegra A