Meursault-Goutte d’Or 1990 Buisson Battault 1-er Cru

Les Gouttes d’Or, whose evocative name means “the droplets of gold”, is a Premier Cru vineyard of the Meursault appellation in the Cote de Beaune. A favourite of US President Thomas Jefferson, the limestone-rich terroir produces highly-regarded Chardonnay, and it is considered one of the commune’s better sites.

The 5.3 hectare (13 acre) site is in the middle of the commune and is the closest Premier Cru vineyard to the village of Meursault itself. Les Boucheres and Porusot occupy the same line of the slope of the Côte d’Or to the south, while the flatter land below and the steeper land above are given over to village-level wines.

The stony, chalky soils here are underpinned by fragmented limestone, and have proven well equipped to raise Chardonnay. The thin topsoil and gentle slope means there is plenty of drainage, increasing concentration.

This contact with the limestone is also often considered the reason for mineral characters in the wine.

Les Gouttes d’Or faces roughly east, with a slight incline toward the south. This puts the vines in full morning and early afternoon sunshine during the growing season, but shields them from the intensity of the late afternoon sun.

While Les Gouttes d’Or does not often occupy the same breath as Charmes or Perrieres, it is still included among Meursault’s finest.