Comtes Lafon
Domaine des Comtes Lafon began in 1869 with vines in some of the best plots in Mersualt, Volnay and Le Montrachet. This family estate has been run by Dominique Lafon since 1985. He ended share cropping, key to their surging quality, with some of the best white and great red wine. Their cellars are the deepest in Burgundy.
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Vinous (93)
The 2018 Meursault Boucheres 1er Cru underwent an élevage identical to that of the Désirée, yet this is far superior due to the influence of terroir. Fresh and vibrant on the nose, it has tangible mineralité and vigor, while the palate is very well balanced with tangy orange peel and quince. Brimming with tension. The impressive, powerful finish lingers in the mouth. Very refined yet intense.Inc. VAT£2,630.69 -
Vinous (93+)
(bottled the day before my visit; aged in 40% new oak): Complex, vibrant aromas of peach, orange zest and lemon accented by white pepper. Rich, ripe, tactile and sweet, with the intense citrus and stone fruit flavors accented by peppery spices and complicated by vanilla and leesy nuances. A very good showing today, but this is still a baby.Inc. VAT£665.05 -
Vinous (93+)
(bottled the day before my visit; aged in 40% new oak): Complex, vibrant aromas of peach, orange zest and lemon accented by white pepper. Rich, ripe, tactile and sweet, with the intense citrus and stone fruit flavors accented by peppery spices and complicated by vanilla and leesy nuances. A very good showing today, but this is still a baby.Inc. VAT£1,558.34 -
Vinous (93+)
(bottled the day before my visit; aged in 40% new oak): Complex, vibrant aromas of peach, orange zest and lemon accented by white pepper. Rich, ripe, tactile and sweet, with the intense citrus and stone fruit flavors accented by peppery spices and complicated by vanilla and leesy nuances. A very good showing today, but this is still a baby.Inc. VAT£3,083.09 -
Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy (95)
(5-Star Wine) An attractive faint green tint to the colour. The nose shows no signs of heat or heaviness. This is magical on the palate, absolutely fills the mouth, ripe lemons on top of rich pear fruit, but nothing peachy or over-ripe. A brilliant example of Charmes, as the vineyard and the vintage are completely in harmony. Drink from 2026-2035.Inc. VAT£4,104.07 -
Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy (95)
(5-Star Wine) An attractive faint green tint to the colour. The nose shows no signs of heat or heaviness. This is magical on the palate, absolutely fills the mouth, ripe lemons on top of rich pear fruit, but nothing peachy or over-ripe. A brilliant example of Charmes, as the vineyard and the vintage are completely in harmony. Drink from 2026-2035.Inc. VAT£632.00 -
Vinous (93-95)
The 2020 Meursault Les Charmes 1er Cru has a very pure with honeysuckle, orange zest and walnut, gaining intensity with time. This is a multi-dimensional nose, kaleidoscopic. The palate is well balanced with an almost Corton-Charlemagne-like entry, a little more austere compared to previous vintage with a lightly spiced finish. Very fine, quite intellectual, this is a scintillating, almost audacious Meursault-Charmes that has the edge over the Perrières (a view concurred by the man who made it!) Closure: Diam 30Inc. VAT£1,991.63 -
Vinous (92+)
Perfumed aromas of hazelnut, lime and spice. Rich but racy and stylish; youthful and minerally. Rather elegantly styled wine, quite precise for the vintage. Very long on the finish. Lafon now uses just 50% new oak for his Genevrieres; as recently as 1992, this was made in all new barrels.Inc. VAT£560.65 -
Vinous (93-95)
The 2020 Meursault Les Genevrières 1er Cru has a vibrant, menthol-tinged bouquet that bursts from the glass, touches of quince and yellow plum coming through with time. The palate is very well balanced with orange zest and tangerine, very harmonious and poised with a hint of apricot towards the finish. Delicious, exuberant and punchy. Bottled under Diam 30. Closure: Diam 30Inc. VAT£2,925.14 -
Vinous (93-95)
The 2020 Meursault Les Genevrières 1er Cru has a vibrant, menthol-tinged bouquet that bursts from the glass, touches of quince and yellow plum coming through with time. The palate is very well balanced with orange zest and tangerine, very harmonious and poised with a hint of apricot towards the finish. Delicious, exuberant and punchy. Bottled under Diam 30. Closure: Diam 30Inc. VAT£3,869.09 -
Burghound (91-94)
Sweet Spot Outstanding. Hints of spice and petrol add breadth to the ripe and mildly exotic aromas of white peach, mandarin orange and discreet wood influence. The bigger and richer medium weight plus flavors possess excellent mid-palate density while displaying excellent depth and drive on the focused and powerful finish. Impressive.Inc. VAT£1,302.02 -
Vinous (91-93)
The 2019 Meursault Goutte d'Or 1er Cru has plenty of freshness on the nose, the scents of crushed stone, mirabelle, Japanese yuzu and blood orange all beautifully defined. The palate is well balanced with a fine bead of acidity, taut and fresh, delivering impressive weight toward the finish. Just missing a little length on the aftertaste, perchance, but it remains very fine.Inc. VAT£5,035.27 -
Vinous (93-95)
The 2020 Meursault Goutte d'Or 1er Cru has a lovely bouquet with fine delineation, orange pith and apricot, hazelnut with a touch of flint. The palate is beautifully balanced with insistent grip on the entry, more saline than the Bouchères, fine delineation with great precision on the finish. Very...complete. Closure: Diam 30Inc. VAT£2,601.14 -
Vinous (94-95)
(a tank sample, fined ten days ago) Knockout nose combines musky citrus peel, white flowers and grilled nuts. Offers bracing lemon, lime and stone flavors of outstanding purity, with strong minerality giving the wine uncanny energy and cut. The sugar/acid balance here is exhilarating, and the wine's resounding finish offers an almost magically light touch. This should age very slowly.Inc. VAT£1,695.14 -
Vinous (97)
The 2010 Meursault Les Perrières 1er Cru is one of Dominique Lafon's finest offerings from this noble vineyard in recent years, echoing Stephen Tanzer's finding from his vertical in 2019. It has an electrifying bouquet with such intense mineralité that it threatens to overwhelm the senses. The palate is beautifully balanced with a killer line of acidity, just a twist of bitter lemon lending tension, and a judicious touch of creaminess on the detailed finish. Ludicrously brilliant.Inc. VAT£1,226.00 -
Vinous (96)
The 2017 Meursault Les Perrières 1er Cru showed some reduction on the nose, but there is impressive delineation and focus and real mineralité here. It just needs bottle age. The palate is very well balanced, a live wire of acidity, tensile and mineral-driven with a judicious touch of spice toward the persistent finish. This is very classy and persistent, translating the terroir with style, a wine that flirts with profundity. Tasted blind at the annual Burgfest tasting in Savigny-lès-Beaune.Inc. VAT£1,985.21 -
Vinous (96-98)
The 2018 Meursault Les Perrières 1er Cru rivets you to the spot with crushed pebble and crushed limestone scents that could only really originate from this vineyard. Such intensity! The beautifully balanced palate delivers a fabulous line of acidity, notes of orange zest and white peach and a stunning crescendo toward the finish, which shows amazing persistence. A Les Perrières with class. Brilliant.Inc. VAT£1,862.81 -
Vinous (96-98)
The 2018 Meursault Les Perrières 1er Cru rivets you to the spot with crushed pebble and crushed limestone scents that could only really originate from this vineyard. Such intensity! The beautifully balanced palate delivers a fabulous line of acidity, notes of orange zest and white peach and a stunning crescendo toward the finish, which shows amazing persistence. A Les Perrières with class. Brilliant.Inc. VAT£2,492.42 -
Vinous (92-94)
The 2020 Meursault Les Perrières 1er Cru has quite a rich bouquet with tropical tones, maybe to the detriment of the mineralité that is slightly masked at the moment. The palate is very well balanced with a fine line of acidity, quite saline, lightly spiced with a vibrant finish that finally delivers the spiciness. Maybe pipped by the Les Charmes this year, this is a classy but not peak Perrières. Bottled under Diam 30. Closure: Diam 30Inc. VAT£843.20 -
Vinous (92-94)
The 2020 Meursault Les Perrières 1er Cru has quite a rich bouquet with tropical tones, maybe to the detriment of the mineralité that is slightly masked at the moment. The palate is very well balanced with a fine line of acidity, quite saline, lightly spiced with a vibrant finish that finally delivers the spiciness. Maybe pipped by the Les Charmes this year, this is a classy but not peak Perrières. Bottled under Diam 30. Closure: Diam 30Inc. VAT£2,598.41 -
Vinous (92-94)
The 2020 Meursault Les Perrières 1er Cru has quite a rich bouquet with tropical tones, maybe to the detriment of the mineralité that is slightly masked at the moment. The palate is very well balanced with a fine line of acidity, quite saline, lightly spiced with a vibrant finish that finally delivers the spiciness. Maybe pipped by the Les Charmes this year, this is a classy but not peak Perrières. Bottled under Diam 30. Closure: Diam 30Inc. VAT£3,157.22 -
Vinous (92-94)
The 2020 Meursault Les Perrières 1er Cru has quite a rich bouquet with tropical tones, maybe to the detriment of the mineralité that is slightly masked at the moment. The palate is very well balanced with a fine line of acidity, quite saline, lightly spiced with a vibrant finish that finally delivers the spiciness. Maybe pipped by the Les Charmes this year, this is a classy but not peak Perrières. Bottled under Diam 30. Closure: Diam 30Inc. VAT£6,454.84 -
Vinous (93-95)
The 2019 Meursault Les Porusots 1er Cru has one of the feistier aromatics from Dominique Lafon, featuring vibrant yellow plum, marmalade and orange pith aromas, very well defined and wonderfully assimilated with the oak. The palate is balanced with a crisp bead of acidity that offsets the richness; elegant and refined, leading to a silky-smooth hazelnut and spice-infused finish. This represents a superb followup to the impressive 2018 but might not surpass it. We will find out.Inc. VAT£4,600.87 -
Vinous (94-96)
The 2020 Meursault Les Porusots 1er Cru has a perfumed bouquet with lemon verbena, orange pith, honeysuckle and pressed yellow flowers. Vibrant and concentrated. The palate is well balanced with a fine bead of acidity, a little more extract here perhaps, spicy with touches of stem ginger towards the persistent finish. Superb. This vies with the Meursault-Charmes as "best in (Lafon's) show". Closure: Diam 30Inc. VAT£1,994.20 -
Vinous (92-94)
The 2018 Meursault Clos-de-la-Barre has a reserved and quite austere bouquet at the moment, which surprising considering the growing season. This is a stubborn Meursault. The palate is well balanced with fine acidity and quite saline in the mouth, with a touch of orange peel on the sharp, racy finish. Excellent.Inc. VAT£3,608.47 -
Vinous (90-92)
The 2019 Meursault Clos-de-la-Barre has a taut nose like the Désirée. Perfumed white flower scents intermingle with yellow plum and citrus peel – very pretty. The palate is well balanced with a fine bead of acidity and there is plenty of energy here. A twist of sour lemon lends tension toward the finish, and a touch of ginger pops up on the aftertaste. Excellent.Inc. VAT£3,293.27 -
Vinous (90-92)
The 2019 Meursault Clos-de-la-Barre has a taut nose like the Désirée. Perfumed white flower scents intermingle with yellow plum and citrus peel – very pretty. The palate is well balanced with a fine bead of acidity and there is plenty of energy here. A twist of sour lemon lends tension toward the finish, and a touch of ginger pops up on the aftertaste. Excellent.Inc. VAT£3,516.07 -
Vinous (91-93)
The 2020 Meursault Clos-de-la-Barre has a clean, quite precise bouquet that is a step up from the Village, traces of grilled almond and hazelnut. The palate is underpinned by a fine line of acidity, more mineralité and tension with a saline, slightly Puligny-like finish. One of those less-is-more Meursaults. Bottled under Diam 30. Closure: Diam 30Inc. VAT£3,663.67 -
Vinous (91-93)
The 2020 Meursault Clos-de-la-Barre has a clean, quite precise bouquet that is a step up from the Village, traces of grilled almond and hazelnut. The palate is underpinned by a fine line of acidity, more mineralité and tension with a saline, slightly Puligny-like finish. One of those less-is-more Meursaults. Bottled under Diam 30. Closure: Diam 30Inc. VAT£756.41 -
Vinous (91-93)
The 2020 Meursault Clos-de-la-Barre has a clean, quite precise bouquet that is a step up from the Village, traces of grilled almond and hazelnut. The palate is underpinned by a fine line of acidity, more mineralité and tension with a saline, slightly Puligny-like finish. One of those less-is-more Meursaults. Bottled under Diam 30. Closure: Diam 30Inc. VAT£1,130.42
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Vinous (93)
The 2018 Meursault Boucheres 1er Cru underwent an élevage identical to that of the Désirée, yet this is far superior due to the influence of terroir. Fresh and vibrant on the nose, it has tangible mineralité and vigor, while the palate is very well balanced with tangy orange peel and quince. Brimming with tension. The impressive, powerful finish lingers in the mouth. Very refined yet intense.In Bond£2,173.00 -
Vinous (93+)
(bottled the day before my visit; aged in 40% new oak): Complex, vibrant aromas of peach, orange zest and lemon accented by white pepper. Rich, ripe, tactile and sweet, with the intense citrus and stone fruit flavors accented by peppery spices and complicated by vanilla and leesy nuances. A very good showing today, but this is still a baby.In Bond£551.00 -
Vinous (93+)
(bottled the day before my visit; aged in 40% new oak): Complex, vibrant aromas of peach, orange zest and lemon accented by white pepper. Rich, ripe, tactile and sweet, with the intense citrus and stone fruit flavors accented by peppery spices and complicated by vanilla and leesy nuances. A very good showing today, but this is still a baby.In Bond£1,289.00 -
Vinous (93+)
(bottled the day before my visit; aged in 40% new oak): Complex, vibrant aromas of peach, orange zest and lemon accented by white pepper. Rich, ripe, tactile and sweet, with the intense citrus and stone fruit flavors accented by peppery spices and complicated by vanilla and leesy nuances. A very good showing today, but this is still a baby.In Bond£2,550.00 -
Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy (95)
(5-Star Wine) An attractive faint green tint to the colour. The nose shows no signs of heat or heaviness. This is magical on the palate, absolutely fills the mouth, ripe lemons on top of rich pear fruit, but nothing peachy or over-ripe. A brilliant example of Charmes, as the vineyard and the vintage are completely in harmony. Drink from 2026-2035.In Bond£3,388.00 -
Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy (95)
(5-Star Wine) An attractive faint green tint to the colour. The nose shows no signs of heat or heaviness. This is magical on the palate, absolutely fills the mouth, ripe lemons on top of rich pear fruit, but nothing peachy or over-ripe. A brilliant example of Charmes, as the vineyard and the vintage are completely in harmony. Drink from 2026-2035.In Bond£524.00 -
Vinous (93-95)
The 2020 Meursault Les Charmes 1er Cru has a very pure with honeysuckle, orange zest and walnut, gaining intensity with time. This is a multi-dimensional nose, kaleidoscopic. The palate is well balanced with an almost Corton-Charlemagne-like entry, a little more austere compared to previous vintage with a lightly spiced finish. Very fine, quite intellectual, this is a scintillating, almost audacious Meursault-Charmes that has the edge over the Perrières (a view concurred by the man who made it!) Closure: Diam 30In Bond£1,649.00 -
Vinous (92+)
Perfumed aromas of hazelnut, lime and spice. Rich but racy and stylish; youthful and minerally. Rather elegantly styled wine, quite precise for the vintage. Very long on the finish. Lafon now uses just 50% new oak for his Genevrieres; as recently as 1992, this was made in all new barrels.In Bond£464.00 -
Vinous (93-95)
The 2020 Meursault Les Genevrières 1er Cru has a vibrant, menthol-tinged bouquet that bursts from the glass, touches of quince and yellow plum coming through with time. The palate is very well balanced with orange zest and tangerine, very harmonious and poised with a hint of apricot towards the finish. Delicious, exuberant and punchy. Bottled under Diam 30. Closure: Diam 30In Bond£2,428.00 -
Vinous (93-95)
The 2020 Meursault Les Genevrières 1er Cru has a vibrant, menthol-tinged bouquet that bursts from the glass, touches of quince and yellow plum coming through with time. The palate is very well balanced with orange zest and tangerine, very harmonious and poised with a hint of apricot towards the finish. Delicious, exuberant and punchy. Bottled under Diam 30. Closure: Diam 30In Bond£3,205.00 -
Burghound (91-94)
Sweet Spot Outstanding. Hints of spice and petrol add breadth to the ripe and mildly exotic aromas of white peach, mandarin orange and discreet wood influence. The bigger and richer medium weight plus flavors possess excellent mid-palate density while displaying excellent depth and drive on the focused and powerful finish. Impressive.In Bond£1,077.00 -
Vinous (91-93)
The 2019 Meursault Goutte d'Or 1er Cru has plenty of freshness on the nose, the scents of crushed stone, mirabelle, Japanese yuzu and blood orange all beautifully defined. The palate is well balanced with a fine bead of acidity, taut and fresh, delivering impressive weight toward the finish. Just missing a little length on the aftertaste, perchance, but it remains very fine.In Bond£4,164.00 -
Vinous (93-95)
The 2020 Meursault Goutte d'Or 1er Cru has a lovely bouquet with fine delineation, orange pith and apricot, hazelnut with a touch of flint. The palate is beautifully balanced with insistent grip on the entry, more saline than the Bouchères, fine delineation with great precision on the finish. Very...complete. Closure: Diam 30In Bond£2,158.00 -
Vinous (94-95)
(a tank sample, fined ten days ago) Knockout nose combines musky citrus peel, white flowers and grilled nuts. Offers bracing lemon, lime and stone flavors of outstanding purity, with strong minerality giving the wine uncanny energy and cut. The sugar/acid balance here is exhilarating, and the wine's resounding finish offers an almost magically light touch. This should age very slowly.In Bond£1,403.00 -
Vinous (97)
The 2010 Meursault Les Perrières 1er Cru is one of Dominique Lafon's finest offerings from this noble vineyard in recent years, echoing Stephen Tanzer's finding from his vertical in 2019. It has an electrifying bouquet with such intense mineralité that it threatens to overwhelm the senses. The palate is beautifully balanced with a killer line of acidity, just a twist of bitter lemon lending tension, and a judicious touch of creaminess on the detailed finish. Ludicrously brilliant.In Bond£1,019.00 -
Vinous (96)
The 2017 Meursault Les Perrières 1er Cru showed some reduction on the nose, but there is impressive delineation and focus and real mineralité here. It just needs bottle age. The palate is very well balanced, a live wire of acidity, tensile and mineral-driven with a judicious touch of spice toward the persistent finish. This is very classy and persistent, translating the terroir with style, a wine that flirts with profundity. Tasted blind at the annual Burgfest tasting in Savigny-lès-Beaune.In Bond£1,649.00 -
Vinous (96-98)
The 2018 Meursault Les Perrières 1er Cru rivets you to the spot with crushed pebble and crushed limestone scents that could only really originate from this vineyard. Such intensity! The beautifully balanced palate delivers a fabulous line of acidity, notes of orange zest and white peach and a stunning crescendo toward the finish, which shows amazing persistence. A Les Perrières with class. Brilliant.In Bond£1,547.00 -
Vinous (96-98)
The 2018 Meursault Les Perrières 1er Cru rivets you to the spot with crushed pebble and crushed limestone scents that could only really originate from this vineyard. Such intensity! The beautifully balanced palate delivers a fabulous line of acidity, notes of orange zest and white peach and a stunning crescendo toward the finish, which shows amazing persistence. A Les Perrières with class. Brilliant.In Bond£2,069.00 -
Vinous (92-94)
The 2020 Meursault Les Perrières 1er Cru has quite a rich bouquet with tropical tones, maybe to the detriment of the mineralité that is slightly masked at the moment. The palate is very well balanced with a fine line of acidity, quite saline, lightly spiced with a vibrant finish that finally delivers the spiciness. Maybe pipped by the Les Charmes this year, this is a classy but not peak Perrières. Bottled under Diam 30. Closure: Diam 30In Bond£700.00 -
Vinous (92-94)
The 2020 Meursault Les Perrières 1er Cru has quite a rich bouquet with tropical tones, maybe to the detriment of the mineralité that is slightly masked at the moment. The palate is very well balanced with a fine line of acidity, quite saline, lightly spiced with a vibrant finish that finally delivers the spiciness. Maybe pipped by the Les Charmes this year, this is a classy but not peak Perrières. Bottled under Diam 30. Closure: Diam 30In Bond£2,160.00 -
Vinous (92-94)
The 2020 Meursault Les Perrières 1er Cru has quite a rich bouquet with tropical tones, maybe to the detriment of the mineralité that is slightly masked at the moment. The palate is very well balanced with a fine line of acidity, quite saline, lightly spiced with a vibrant finish that finally delivers the spiciness. Maybe pipped by the Les Charmes this year, this is a classy but not peak Perrières. Bottled under Diam 30. Closure: Diam 30In Bond£2,623.00 -
Vinous (92-94)
The 2020 Meursault Les Perrières 1er Cru has quite a rich bouquet with tropical tones, maybe to the detriment of the mineralité that is slightly masked at the moment. The palate is very well balanced with a fine line of acidity, quite saline, lightly spiced with a vibrant finish that finally delivers the spiciness. Maybe pipped by the Les Charmes this year, this is a classy but not peak Perrières. Bottled under Diam 30. Closure: Diam 30In Bond£5,363.00 -
Vinous (93-95)
The 2019 Meursault Les Porusots 1er Cru has one of the feistier aromatics from Dominique Lafon, featuring vibrant yellow plum, marmalade and orange pith aromas, very well defined and wonderfully assimilated with the oak. The palate is balanced with a crisp bead of acidity that offsets the richness; elegant and refined, leading to a silky-smooth hazelnut and spice-infused finish. This represents a superb followup to the impressive 2018 but might not surpass it. We will find out.In Bond£3,802.00 -
Vinous (94-96)
The 2020 Meursault Les Porusots 1er Cru has a perfumed bouquet with lemon verbena, orange pith, honeysuckle and pressed yellow flowers. Vibrant and concentrated. The palate is well balanced with a fine bead of acidity, a little more extract here perhaps, spicy with touches of stem ginger towards the persistent finish. Superb. This vies with the Meursault-Charmes as "best in (Lafon's) show". Closure: Diam 30In Bond£1,649.00 -
Vinous (92-94)
The 2018 Meursault Clos-de-la-Barre has a reserved and quite austere bouquet at the moment, which surprising considering the growing season. This is a stubborn Meursault. The palate is well balanced with fine acidity and quite saline in the mouth, with a touch of orange peel on the sharp, racy finish. Excellent.In Bond£2,975.00 -
Vinous (90-92)
The 2019 Meursault Clos-de-la-Barre has a taut nose like the Désirée. Perfumed white flower scents intermingle with yellow plum and citrus peel – very pretty. The palate is well balanced with a fine bead of acidity and there is plenty of energy here. A twist of sour lemon lends tension toward the finish, and a touch of ginger pops up on the aftertaste. Excellent.In Bond£2,715.00 -
Vinous (90-92)
The 2019 Meursault Clos-de-la-Barre has a taut nose like the Désirée. Perfumed white flower scents intermingle with yellow plum and citrus peel – very pretty. The palate is well balanced with a fine bead of acidity and there is plenty of energy here. A twist of sour lemon lends tension toward the finish, and a touch of ginger pops up on the aftertaste. Excellent.In Bond£2,898.00 -
Vinous (91-93)
The 2020 Meursault Clos-de-la-Barre has a clean, quite precise bouquet that is a step up from the Village, traces of grilled almond and hazelnut. The palate is underpinned by a fine line of acidity, more mineralité and tension with a saline, slightly Puligny-like finish. One of those less-is-more Meursaults. Bottled under Diam 30. Closure: Diam 30In Bond£3,021.00 -
Vinous (91-93)
The 2020 Meursault Clos-de-la-Barre has a clean, quite precise bouquet that is a step up from the Village, traces of grilled almond and hazelnut. The palate is underpinned by a fine line of acidity, more mineralité and tension with a saline, slightly Puligny-like finish. One of those less-is-more Meursaults. Bottled under Diam 30. Closure: Diam 30In Bond£625.00 -
Vinous (91-93)
The 2020 Meursault Clos-de-la-Barre has a clean, quite precise bouquet that is a step up from the Village, traces of grilled almond and hazelnut. The palate is underpinned by a fine line of acidity, more mineralité and tension with a saline, slightly Puligny-like finish. One of those less-is-more Meursaults. Bottled under Diam 30. Closure: Diam 30In Bond£934.00