Alain Gras : Meursault Village "Les Tillets" 2023

Tasting characteristics and advice for Alain Gras Meursault Village "Les Tillets" 2023

Tasting

Appearance

The wine displays a pale yellow color with golden highlights, crystalline and luminous, reflecting the wine’s youth and its mineral structure.

Nose

The nose reveals lovely aromatic complexity with notes of citrus (lemon, lime), green apple, and white flowers—especially linden blossom, which gives the parcel its name. Secondary aromas of beurre blanc, brioche, hazelnut, and acacia honey complete this delicate, layered bouquet.

Palate

On the palate, the wine shows fine breadth and a well-judged richness, perfectly balanced by a signature mineral freshness. The texture is both creamy and taut, with a pronounced limestone minerality that structures the whole. Flavors of citrus, white-fleshed fruits, and toasty notes unfold progressively, leading to a long, persistent finish with mineral and buttery accents.

Food and wine pairing

This Meursault is an ideal match for fine fish such as turbot with fennel, langoustines with butter, or line-caught sea bass. It also pairs beautifully with poultry in a light mushroom sauce, as well as with aged cheeses such as an 18-month Comté.

Serving and cellaring

Meursault Village "Les Tillets" 2023 is best enjoyed at a temperature between 12 and 14°C. This wine can be enjoyed now but offers cellaring potential through around 2038, during which time it will develop tertiary aromas of honey and dried fruits while retaining its mineral tension.

A high-altitude Meursault combining richness and Burgundian minerality

The estate

Founded in 1979 by Alain Gras, the fifth generation of a Burgundian winegrowing family, Domaine Alain Gras has established itself as a benchmark for the Saint-Romain appellation. Starting out with just one leased hectare, the estate now spans 12 to 15 hectares across Saint-Romain, Meursault, and Auxey-Duresses. Since 2023, Arthur Gras, 23 years old and a graduate in viticulture and oenology, has taken the reins of the estate alongside his father. The domaine’s wines feature on the lists of 21 of France’s 27 three-Michelin-star restaurants, a testament to the exceptional recognition earned by this producer from the Côte de Beaune.

The vineyard

The "Les Tillets" parcel lies in the upper part of the Meursault appellation, between 290 and 350 meters in altitude. This elevated position gives the wine remarkable freshness and mineral tension. The clay-limestone soils, made up of calcareous marls over a shallow rocky subsoil, force the roots to delve deep to draw their nutrients. The exposure favors optimal morning sunshine while preserving freshness in the afternoon. The parcel’s name refers to the linden trees that historically bordered the vineyard.

The vintage

The 2023 vintage in Bourgogne began with an exceptionally mild winter followed by a changeable spring that slowed vegetative growth. Summer was marked by alternating spells of heat, including a heatwave period between August 10 and 25. Harvest began in early September under favorable conditions, allowing the grapes to reach full physiological ripeness while preserving fine natural acidity. The 2023 vintage stands out for a remarkable balance between volume and quality, exceeding five-year averages.

Winemaking and aging

The grapes for Meursault Village "Les Tillets" 2023 are harvested by hand, then gently pressed using pneumatic pressing. After light settling, the must ferments in 228-liter French oak barrels, with 25 to 50% new oak, thanks to indigenous yeasts. Aging then continues for 12 months in these same barrels, on fine lees, with possible bâtonnage to build texture. The wine then undergoes light fining and gentle filtration before bottling at the beginning of 2024.

Grape variety

100% Chardonnay