2022 Domaine des Comtes Lafon Meursault 1er Cru Charmes

The 2022 Domaine des Comtes Lafon Meursault 1er Cru Charmes is one of the great white Burgundies of the Côte de Beaune and demonstrates in this vintage why Les Charmes is one of the most beloved Premier Crus of Meursault. In the hands of Domaine des Comtes Lafon, this vineyard acquires an impressive combination of richness, tension, and refinement. The 2022 is a wine with breadth, a satiny texture, and immense length, yet possessing the precision and energy that distinguish great Meursault from mere richness.

Domaine des Comtes Lafon and Meursault Charmes

Domaine des Comtes Lafon has belonged to the absolute elite of Burgundy for decades. The estate in Meursault is considered a benchmark for white Burgundy, with wines known for their depth, tension, and terroir expression. Under the leadership of Léa and Pierre Lafon, the house remains true to the principles that made it great: organic and biodynamic vineyard care, low yields, and extremely precise vinification.

Les Charmes is one of the most famous Premier Cru vineyards in Meursault. The name already suggests why this climat is so beloved: Charmes often produces wines with a seductive, rich, and open character, but in the best hands, also with sufficient tension and depth to age for decades. In 2022, Comtes Lafon displays exactly that great side of Charmes.

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A great Charmes in a strong vintage

The 2022 vintage in Burgundy produced ripe and concentrated white wines, but freshness was excellently preserved at the best producers. At Comtes Lafon, this resulted in wines with both richness and tension, and Les Charmes in particular seems to have benefited optimally from the conditions of the growing season in 2022.

The wine matured according to the estate's classic method with a long aging on the lees, which imparts extra texture and complexity. As a result, the wine possesses not only the charm and volume you expect from Charmes, but also a remarkably precise and energetic structure.

Scent, taste and character

On the nose, the 2022 Meursault 1er Cru Charmes opens with a rich yet refined aromatic profile of ripe pear, citrus zest, quince, and white flowers. This is followed by notes of freshly baked brioche, honeycomb, almond, light toast, and a subtle waxy touch that gives the wine extra depth.

After further aeration, more mineral accents emerge, along with nuances of yuzu, wet stone, and an almost briny tension that gives the wine great definition.

On the palate, this Charmes immediately displays its class. The texture is satiny and broad, with an almost creamy body in the mid-palate, yet at the same time, the wine remains remarkably precise. Ripe pear, citrus, white peach, and subtle honey notes are supported by fresh acidity that gives the wine focus and length.

What impresses most is the combination of volume and elegance. The wine clearly possesses the richness and seductive character of Les Charmes, yet never becomes heavy. The mineral undercurrent and lively acidity keep everything in balance and give the wine an almost muscular precision.

The finish is long, layered, and persistent, with notes of citrus, brioche, flowers, chalk, and a subtle honeyed depth that lingers for a long time.

One of the great white Burgundies of 2022

While Les Perrières is often regarded at Comtes Lafon as the estate's tightest and most mineral wine, Les Charmes in 2022 reveals a more complete and almost monumental side. The wine possesses an openness and charm that makes it attractive even now, yet at the same time has sufficient concentration, structure, and acidity to continue developing for decades to come.

It is precisely that interplay of richness, tension, and terroir expression that makes this wine one of the highlights of the vintage.

Professional reviews

The 2022 Meursault 1er Cru Charmes was highly acclaimed by the international wine press.

The Wine Advocate: 95 points
William Kelley describes the wine as a beautifully successful Charmes with aromas of pear, waxy citrus zest, white flowers, freshly baked bread, and honeycomb. He particularly praises the satiny texture, the concentration, and the long, precise finish.

Vinous: 94-96 points (Neal Martin)
Martin calls the wine one of the estate's best of 2022. He points to the expressive nose with yuzu, quince, and mineral citrus fruit, and to the combination of balance, depth, power, and a long, defined finish.

Drinking window and food and wine pairings

The 2022 Domaine des Comtes Lafon Meursault 1er Cru Charmes is impressive even when young, but will gain significantly in complexity with bottle aging. The optimal drinking window runs from 2027 to 2045.

Preferably serve this wine at 11 to 13°C.

This great Meursault pairs beautifully with lobster, scallops, turbot, sole, veal with cream sauce, poultry with morels, truffle risotto, and refined dishes with butter or cream sauce. Its richness and tension also come fully into their own with mature hard cheeses or classic Burgundian poultry preparations.