2020 Arnaud Ente Meursault, Burgundy, France

ABOUT THE WINE

This village-level Meursault is 100% Chardonnay and originates from Arnaud Ente’s holdings around his home village in the Côte de Beaune. Ente’s approach gives even his village wines unusual intensity: yields are kept low, vineyard work is exceptionally detailed, and picking decisions favor freshness and precision rather than maximum ripeness.

The 2020 season was hot and dry, with low disease pressure but some hydric stress in certain parcels. Ente responded through careful vineyard management and began harvesting on August 17—the earliest start he had experienced—finishing on August 24. The early picking was crucial to retaining the acidity and energy that distinguish his style, allowing the ripe character of the vintage to coexist with remarkable freshness.

In the glass, the wine is initially poised and restrained, gradually revealing peach, apple, citrus, and floral notes with suggestions of honey and stony minerality. The palate possesses the breadth expected of Meursault but remains tightly controlled, with finely etched acidity providing shape and lift. At 13% alcohol, the 2020 achieves impressive concentration without heaviness, culminating in a persistent, savory finish.

Ente’s cellar philosophy is designed to minimize the distance between vineyard and finished wine. Chardonnay is generally whole-cluster pressed, while élevage increasingly relies on large oak foudres and glass Wineglobes rather than small barrels, reducing overt oak influence and oxygen exposure. White wines spend approximately 12 months in a combination of these vessels before a further six months in stainless steel, and bottling is carried out without fining or filtration.

The wine’s combination of concentration, acidity, and mineral structure gives it considerable aging potential. Enjoy it with lobster, scallops, turbot, sole, roast chicken, veal, wild mushrooms, or aged Comté. Serving around 12–14°C will allow its texture and aromatic complexity to emerge fully.

ABOUT THE PRODUCER

Arnaud Ente founded his domaine in Meursault in 1992 after taking responsibility for vineyards belonging to the family of his wife, Marie-Odile. Early experience included time with Philippe Thévenot and exposure to the work of Jean-François Coche of Domaine Coche-Dury. From a tiny estate of approximately four hectares, Arnaud and Marie-Odile developed one of Burgundy’s most meticulous domaines, renowned for Chardonnay of extraordinary purity, concentration, and precision.

The domaine has been certified organic since 2013. Its vineyards receive exceptionally intensive manual attention, with cover crops encouraged to improve soil health and biodiversity, intrusive plowing avoided, and Guyot-Poussard pruning used to encourage healthy sap flow. Yields are deliberately low, harvesting is performed by hand, and fruit may undergo repeated sorting to ensure that only pristine grapes reach the press.

Ente’s style has evolved significantly. His early wines were richer and derived from later harvesting, but around the turn of the millennium he began picking earlier and progressively reducing the influence of oak. The objective became greater transparency, natural acidity, and a more precise articulation of terroir. Experiments with glass Wineglobes eventually became an important part of the domaine’s élevage, further emphasizing clarity and purity.

The result is a distinctive interpretation of Meursault: concentrated without excess, textural without heaviness, and mineral without austerity. The 2020 village Meursault captures that philosophy particularly well, delivering the richness associated with its appellation through the taut, energetic lens that has become Arnaud Ente’s signature.