# Meursault "Clos du Pré de Manche" (2021)

- **Producer:** Domaine François Mikulski
- **Colour:** white
- **Type:** still
- **Grapes:** Chardonnay
- **Region:** Burgundy, France
- **Style:** Classic
- **Alcohol:** 13.0%
- **Average price:** €135
- **Vegan:** No
- **Contains sulphites:** Yes
- **When to drink:** Now or Later
- **Serving temperature:** 10–12 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** peach, apricot, plum, lemon, grapefruit, butter, vanilla, cloves, toast, almond, honey

## About this wine

Domaine François Mikulski was established in Meursault in 1992 by François Mikulski and his wife Marie-Pierre. François, the son of a Polish lieutenant who fled to England during WWII, has built a stellar reputation for crafting pure, precise, and chiseled Meursaults that avoid heavy oak or excessive opulence. The 'Clos du Pré de Manche' is one of the domain's newest white cuvées, sourced from a tiny 0.3-hectare walled vineyard in northern Meursault, bordering the Premier Cru Les Cras. The domain farms this parcel under a lease agreement, with the 2019 vintage marking their first-ever harvest from this unique site.

## Interesting facts

- The Clos du Pré de Manche is a tiny 0.3-hectare walled vineyard, and the 2019 vintage was the domain's first-ever harvest from this site.
- Founder François Mikulski is the son of a Polish lieutenant who fled to England during WWII before settling in Burgundy.
- Due to a non-interventionist approach, the 2021 vintage may naturally form light, harmless tartaric acid crystals in the bottle.

## Food pairing

This Meursault's combination of rich textural weight and vibrant, high-toned acidity makes it exceptionally versatile. The wine's medium-plus body and subtle oak integration stand up beautifully to rich, buttery seafood and roasted white meats, while its energetic acidity cuts through the fat of fried dishes like crispy chicken or glazed pork. The subtle spice notes in the wine also harmonize wonderfully with mild, aromatic Asian spices.

## Wine making process

The winemaking process at Domaine François Mikulski is defined by a non-interventionist philosophy. Grapes are meticulously sorted in both the vineyard and winery before undergoing gentle pneumatic pressing of whole clusters. After 24 to 48 hours of cold settling, fermentation occurs spontaneously using only indigenous yeasts, progressing slowly over three to four months in cool, rock-cut cellars. The wine is aged for 12 months on its fine lees in traditional Burgundy oak barrels (228L and 500L), with only 10% new oak to preserve terroir clarity. Light lees stirring is selectively applied before the wine is racked to stainless steel tanks for final settling prior to bottling. Clarification is achieved using casein and bentonite.