Domaine du Pavillon, Meursault 1er Cru, Les Charmes, Burgundy, France, 2022

Producer Profile

Located south of Pommard, Domaine du Pavillon is Albert Bichot’s flagship Côte de Beaune estate.

The domaine covers 19.5 hectares, with vineyards across some of the Côte de Beaune’s most renowned appellations, including Meursault, Pommard, Volnay, Corton and Corton-Charlemagne, with holdings in some of the region’s finest vineyard sites. The estate itself includes vineyards, a winery, cellars and an 18th-century manor surrounded by walls. Almost 4 hectares are dedicated to the domaine’s production of Pommard Clos des Ursulines monopole. Organic viticulture is practised throughout the estate, while the winery was modernised in 2016, allowing individual parcels to be vinified separately and with greater precision.

Viticulture

The 2.89-hectare Premier Cru vineyard is planted on calcareous clay soils in Meursault's renowned Les Charmes climat. The estate's holdings span both Charmes-Dessus and Charmes-Dessous, bringing together the richness and generosity of the lower clay-rich slopes with the finesse and mineral character of the upper limestone-influenced sites. The Chardonnay vines average 35 to 40 years of age, producing fruit with excellent concentration and complexity.

Winemaking

Grapes are harvested by hand and carefully sorted before vinification to ensure only the highest quality fruit is selected. Gentle pressing preserves the purity and expression of the Chardonnay, followed by alcoholic fermentation in oak barrels. The wine is then matured on its fine lees, enhancing texture, complexity and depth while maintaining the distinctive character of the vineyard. The wine is aged for 14 to 16 months in French oak barrels, of which 30% to 35% are new. Lees ageing during maturation contributes additional richness, texture and integration of the oak influence.

Tasting Note

A beautifully complex Premier Cru Meursault with an expressive nose of candied lemon, almond, white flowers, spice and freshly baked brioche. Rich and full-bodied on the palate, balancing generous ripe fruit with refined mineral tension. The long, elegant finish reveals layers of brioche, spice and citrus, delivering both power and finesse.

Food matching

An excellent partner for scallops, lobster, fine white fish, roast chicken and creamy poultry dishes, complementing both richness and delicacy.