Désirée is one of two village vineyards located right next to Clos de la Barre's wine cellar, and the 2020 Meursault Desiree from Domaine des Comtes Lafon is a white Burgundy produced from that vineyard. This white Burgundy is produced from the Chardonnay of Domaine des Comtes Lafon, located in Côte de Beaune. Since this is a Village-level wine, new oak barrels were not used. This was a deliberate choice. The wine was aged in used oak barrels to bring out the distinctive citrus and chalky flavors of Chardonnay without masking them with toasty notes.
The 2020 growing season in Burgundy was warm and dry, resulting in one of the earliest harvests on record. What was unusual was the combination of factors reported by growers afterward: the fruit ripened well, but acidity was high, and alcohol levels were often lower than in 2019. This balance suits the Village Meursault well, resulting in a wine that is rich yet possesses a crisp, defined mid-palate.
Bottled under DIAM, the technical cork adopted by the domaine since 2013 to maintain consistent oxygen transfer, there are no longer any concerns about premature oxidation. Best enjoyed through 2036.
Robert Parker (93)
With the 2020 Meursault Désirée, the "young" vines here have attained their 25th year, and things are starting to get serious. Mingling notes of stone fruit and pear with hints of honeycomb, almonds and spices, the wine is medium to full-bodied, satiny and enveloping, its textural attack segueing into a layered, gourmand mid-palate, before concluding with a saline finish.
Jancis Robinson (16.5)
Cask sample.Mid lemon; richer texture, baked apples and fresh dough; but zesty and charming. Matthew Hayes
Burghound (92)
Smoky wisps are present on the similar aromas of green apple, citrus confit and a plethora of spice hints, especially anise. There is both excellent punch and detail to the attractively textured and slightly finer middle weight flavors that fan out on the lingering, firm and slightly more complex finale. This too is really quite good and worth considering.
Jasper Morris (93)
Another perfect lemon and lime colour. Plumper fruit on the nose, only a faint hint of anything more exotic. Once again there is the necessary tension on the palate, with correct acidity, just a little reduction winding itself in to uplift the texture. Tasted Jan 2021.
