Ballot Millot Meursault 1er Cru Charmes 2016《ZTF245》

Ballot Millot Meursault 1er Cru Charmes 2016《ZTF245》

Domaine Ballot Millot is a family-owned boutique winery located in the village of Meursault, in the Côte de Beaune region of Burgundy, France.

The current owner of Domaine Ballot Millot is Charles Ballot, who officially took over winemaking and management from his parents in 2001. The Ballot and Millot families began planting vineyards in Meursault as early as the mid-17th century. After Charles' parents married, Domaine Ballot Millot acquired a wealth of exceptional vineyards, including two premier crus in Meursault, both situated in prime locations: Perrieres and Genevrieres. Currently, Domaine Ballot Millot's vineyards are primarily planted with grape varieties such as Aligote, Chardonnary, Pinot Noir, and Gamay. Most of these vines are 30 to 70 years old. The winery never uses pesticides in the vineyards, and other chemical treatments are minimal. As a result, despite low yields, the grape quality is exceptional.

Les Charmes is the largest of the prestigious premier crus in Meursault and one of the village's three premier crus, adjacent to Genevrieres and Perriere. Its thin, well-drained limestone topsoil is ideal for grape cultivation. The gentle slope allows the vines to receive morning sun while providing shade from the intense afternoon sun, ensuring even ripening. The wines produced here are exclusively Chardonnay, vibrant and often exhibit honeyed, nutty, and floral aromas. The entire Charmes vineyard is divided into two sections: the upper section, Charmes Dessus, and the lower section, Charmes Dessous. The upper section is rich and full-bodied, with sweet and ripe fruit aromas, while the lower section is typically lower in acidity.

Many female wine lovers blush and their hearts race at the mere mention of a Premier Cru Meursault Charmes! It lacks the grand cru pretensions of Perrières or the aristocratic elegance of Genevrières, but it nonetheless offers a wonderful aroma! Its sweet and sour flavor and rich, rounded mouthfeel are like biting into a Pierre Hermé macaron, exuding a variety of ripe fruit notes: peach, citrus, fruit jelly, small flowers, and more. It's truly a delight to savor.

In winemaking, Domaine Ballot Millot employs modern winemaking techniques to produce wines that embody the rich and refined traditions of Meursault, perfectly reflecting the local terroir and climate, achieving a perfect fusion of tradition and modernity. Following harvest, Domaine Ballot Millot rigorously sorts the grapes directly in the vineyard. The selected high-quality white grapes are quickly transported to the winery, where they undergo a long, controlled-air pressing to ensure optimal extraction. The clear, filtered must is then fermented in oak barrels. Fermentation takes place in a low-temperature cellar, and the oak barrels are cleaned weekly to maintain cleanliness and hygiene. After 12 months, malolactic fermentation is complete, and the white wines are then aged in temperature-controlled stainless steel vats for another six months to achieve optimal freshness and ensure aging potential. Before bottling, the wines undergo a light diatomaceous earth filtration.