2015 Hospices de Beaune Meursault Cuvée Loppin

Meursault Cuvée Loppin from the Hospices de Beaune

If you've ever been to Burgundy, you're familiar with the building: the Hôtel-Dieu in Beaune, with its iconic tiled roof. But what you might not know is that this medieval hospital is also one of France's most famous wineries. Since 1443, it has owned vineyards donated by families from the region. One of those donations resulted in the Meursault Cuvée Loppin – a white Burgundy with history, character, and class.

The wine is auctioned annually during the 'Vente des Vins', a major wine festival in Beaune that attracts wine lovers from all over the world. The proceeds from the auction go to charity. But what's in the glass is anything but symbolic. The Cuvée Loppin is a true Meursault: round, mineral, with that characteristic combination of creaminess and freshness. The 2015 version is now drinking beautifully, yet still full of life.

What is special about the Cuvée Loppin?

The vineyards for this wine are situated on classic Meursault soil: a mixture of limestone, clay, and marl. The grapes come from several small plots, all owned by the Hospices de Beaune, once donated by the Loppin family. The average age of the vines is around 40 years. Yields are low, but concentration is high. And everything is harvested by hand.

What distinguishes the Cuvée Loppin is its balance. Meursault is known for its rich style, often with hints of butter and nuts. But this wine also has a minerality underneath, something that creates tension. You get notes of ripe apple, peach, and roasted almonds, but also a fresh undertone of lemon zest and wet stones. The wine is traditionally aged in French oak barrels, some of which are new, but the wood never dominates. It contributes to the structure, not the volume.

2015: a warm year with a ripe style

The 2015 vintage was characterized by warmth and abundant sunshine. This is reflected in the style of this Meursault: richer than average, with more roundness and ripe fruit. But thanks to the work in the vineyard—and the right vinification—it's not a heavy wine. The acidity remains present, giving the wine lift and length. On the palate, it feels full and layered, but never heavy. Ideal for lovers of classic Burgundy with a touch of extra richness.

Now, ten years after the vintage, the wine is exactly where you want it. The primary fruit aromas have melded beautifully with the secondary notes of aging. Think buttery brioche, hazelnut, dried apricot, and subtle smoke. At the same time, there's still enough tension in the wine to warrant a few more years. But why wait?

How does production work at the Hospices?

The Hospices de Beaune doesn't produce the wine itself until bottling. This is done through the so-called "éleveurs": wineries, négociants, or producers who purchase a barrel at auction and then manage the further aging and bottling themselves. This means that each bottle of Meursault Cuvée Loppin can have a unique signature, depending on who aged the barrel. Therefore, it's always wise to check who did the aging – at Grand Cru wines, we select only the most reliable bottlers.

What do you eat with a Meursault like this?

A wine like this calls for dishes with texture and refinement. Classic pairings include fish in butter sauce, lobster, or scallops with beurre blanc. Creamy chicken dishes, mushroom risotto, or a piece of sautéed veal sweetbreads are also perfect. And cheese? Think of a beautifully aged Comté or a subtle Brie de Meaux.

Important: Don't serve this wine too cold. Remove it from the refrigerator in good time and let it breathe in a carafe or large glass. This will allow all the layers – the ripe fruit, the subtle oak, the tension of the acidity – to unfold beautifully.

Why is this wine so rare?

Hospices de Beaune produces only a limited number of barrels of each cuvée each year. The Meursault Cuvée Loppin is already small-scale, and within that range, the 2015 vintage is also in high demand. This makes this wine sought after by enthusiasts and collectors. And because it's sold by auction and bottled later, you rarely find it in traditional stores.

At Grandcruwijnen, we've secured a small allocation. Not because we were lucky, but because we've worked with reliable bottlers for years, giving us access to exceptional Burgundies like this. Each bottle is individually numbered and comes directly from temperature-controlled storage.

Want to order Meursault Cuvée Loppin 2015 online?

You can easily order this exclusive Meursault from the Hospices de Beaune through Grandcruwijnen. The bottles are stored in our climate-controlled Wine Warehouse, so they're always kept under optimal conditions. Prefer to pick them up in Dordrecht? That's possible. And you'll receive an immediate discount on your order – you'll see it immediately when you select "Pick up" during checkout.