Domaine Taupenot Merme has earned its way into the hallowed upper echelons of the Cotes d’Or. Such a slipstream has seen its demand and cachet perennially rise and the results in 2018 will simply enforce the high regard in which it is held and allocated. Their leading wines are among the best in class according to Neal Martin who considers it ‘a domaine that has improved immensely in recent vintages, armed with an impressive array of holdings and fashioning classic, restrained Chardonnay and Pinot Noirs.’ It is run by the eponymous Romain and Virginie Taupenot, brother and sister and the seventh generation of the family to work the vines.
They boast magnificent holdings, translating to a small set of excellent village, 1er Cru and Grand Cru wines where they focus their attention. Their finest are the Grand Cru Charmes-Chambertin and Mazoyeres-Chambertin, which are bottled separately, though the Mazoyeres is also entitled to be labelled Charmes. These two wines are amongst the very finest in the Cote d’Or in 2018. The Mazoyeres-Chambertin has been awarded a superlative 95-97 from Neal Martin, entering it into the running for wine of the vintage, which priced at £985 per case of six makes it a must-own wine.
They also boast riches in the village of Chambolle-Musigny, where their leading 1er Cru La Combe d’Orveau is perhaps the pinnacle. The vines here are 62 years old, veritably ancient, producing a prized possession for any collector who covets silkiness, finesse and precision. The 2018 is among the finest in the history of the La Combe d’Orveau, outscoring Grivot, Faiveley, Thibault Liger-Belair and Anne Gros. It is noteworthy for the savvy buyer that the bottom parcels of the 1er Cru La Combe d’Orveau were made part of the Grand Cru Musigny in 1929, with the other owners reluctant to apply due to potential tax obligations. In 2018 it has been awarded the finest score of 92-94 points from Neal Martin, calling it ‘An excellent Chambolle-Musigny from Romain Taupenot.’ Priced at £510 per case of six, it offers some of the most exceptional value in Burgundy.
Taupenot Merme produce three village-level wines from the Côtes de Nuits, and the pick of them in 2018 is undoubtably their Chambolle-Musigny. This is selected from the superb vineyards Les Bussieres and La Taupe. It is known for being aromatic and elegant, with rich cherry fruit and a sublime velvety texture. The 2018 has been awarded 89-91 points from Neal Martin, who describes it as ‘medium-bodied with succulent red fruit, fleshy and silky-smooth in texture, revealing touches of blood orange toward the sweet finish. Enjoy this over the next decade.’ Parenthetically it has received the same score as Dujac’s Chambolle-Musigny and that of Frederic Mugnier, the latter which costs £1,050 per case of six. We are pleased to release Taupenots Merme Chambolle-Musigny today for £225 per six.
We think it would be extremely rewarding to secure the 1er Cru and Village together so we are very pleased to offer a case of each at a special price of £700. The 1er Cru will be excellent in 10 years time and the Village will be great for drinking in a couple of years.