Henri Darnat winery
The domain s winery is found in Meursault s Champs Lins area, the name of which derives from the lowest vines in the village. Henri Darnat offers a wonderful range of particularly mature wines, this being the wine maker s signature style. Be the first to dig the ground, first to carry the off-cuts away and burn them and the first to put the stakes away under cover: be the last to harvest. This Virgil quotation resonates in Henri Darnat s head as a guiding principle; he is well-reputed for being the last winemaker in Meursault to harvest his grapes. Henri Darnat took over the family domain (grown since the 19th century) in 2000. The domain s vines span the C te de Beaune, from Puligny-Montrachet in white to Beaune for the reds, passing through Meursault, Pommard, and Volnay. Henri Darnat aims to make wines that are both drinkable in youth and age-worthy. He is inquisitive and hugely energetic, always striving to innovate. Henri s relationship with oak is illustrative of this studied avoidance of fashion. Having eliminated new oak barrels from his wines at the same time as he received organic certification over a decade ago, he is now experimenting once more. The proportion of old vines within their holdings means that they can leave the fruit on the vine a little longer without losing essential acids in the grapes, so the style of the estate is one of the rich, seductive, and opulent whites with excellent balance and harmony.