Domaine Theulot Juillot Mercurey 1er Cru Les Champs Martins Blanc 2022

Les Champs Martins borders Les Combins to the west and has historically been considered one of Mercurey’s finest vineyards. All the village’s top growers are represented here, and Theulot Juillot holds two south-facing parcels of mature Pinot Noir. Roughly 20% of the vineyard is planted to Chardonnay, of which Theulot Juillot works with a small parcel of 35-year-old vines on grey Oxfordian marlstone at the western-exposed top of the vineyard. The wine ferments naturally in oak barrels (30% new). Nathalie Juillot believes Les Champs Martin to be the best terroir for whites in the village, and this release backs up that claim. It’s a sleek, chalky, textured white with archetypal Mercurey notes of white liquorice and florals with salty, mineral freshness keeping the palate well-proportioned and bright. Very smart.