1999 Meursault La Goutte d'Or 1er Cru Domaine Francois Gaunoux Burg...

There are more top producers here than in any other commune of the Côte d’Or, and its wines are typically rich and savoury with nutty, honeyed hints and buttery, vanilla spice from the oak. Even though considerably larger than its southerly neighbours Chassagne and Puligny, Meursault contains no Grands Crus. However its three best Premiers Crus produce some of the region’s greatest whites.

Domaine François Gounou is a renowned family-owned estate in the Côte d'Or, based in Meursault. The estate still owns and manages approximately 10 hectares of vineyards, which are personally overseen by the family. The Gounou family has lived in the Côte d'Or since the 16th century, and François Gounou has been involved in grape growing since he was 15 years old. François is also the son of the famous Henri Gounou from Pommard. Known as an avant-garde winemaker, he was adept at blending modernism with tradition, a philosophy that he continues to uphold today. The estate is now managed by François' daughter, Claudine Gounou, who creates approachable yet complex wines of the highest quality.

Chardonnay is often seen as the king of white wine grapes and one of the most widely planted in the world It is suited to a wide variety of soils, though it excels in soils with a high limestone content as found in Champagne, Chablis, and the Côte D`Or.

Burgundy is Chardonnay's spiritual home and the best White Burgundies are dry, rich, honeyed wines with marvellous poise, elegance and balance. They are unquestionably the finest dry white wines in the world. Chardonnay plays a crucial role in the Champagne blend, providing structure and finesse, and is the sole grape in Blanc de Blancs.

It is quantitatively important in California and Australia, is widely planted in Chile and South Africa, and is the second most widely planted grape in New Zealand. In warm climates Chardonnay has a tendency to develop very high sugar levels during the final stages of ripening and this can occur at the expense of acidity. Late picking is a common problem and can result in blowsy and flabby wines that lack structure and definition.

Recently in the New World, we have seen a move towards more elegant, better- balanced and less oak-driven Chardonnays, and this is to be welcomed.