At A Glance
- Fact
- Detail
- Region
- Burgundy, Côte de Nuits and Côte de Beaune
- Estate size
- 13 hectares across 20 appellations
- Family
- Romain and Virginie, ninth generation
- Farming
- Organic viticulture since 2001
- Cellar
- Indigenous yeasts and French oak barrels tailored to each cuvée
- Grand cru parcels
- Charmes-Chambertin, Mazoyères-Chambertin and Clos des Lambrays
The Producer
Grand cru is Burgundy's highest vineyard classification. Domaine Taupenot-Merme includes Charmes-Chambertin, Mazoyères-Chambertin and a small portion of Clos des Lambrays among its grand cru parcels. The domaine also produces Gevrey-Chambertin Premier Cru Bel Air, a premier cru red from the Côte de Nuits.
Romain and his sister Virginie represent the ninth generation to lead the family estate. The range moves from broader appellation wines through premier cru bottles to grand cru sites, giving the family domaine several levels of Burgundy vineyard hierarchy within one estate.
Place
Domaine Taupenot-Merme's vineyards extend across the Côte de Nuits and Côte de Beaune. These two Burgundian subregions give the labels different village and vineyard addresses, from Morey-Saint-Denis and Saint-Romain to Gevrey-Chambertin, Nuits-Saint-Georges and Auxey-Duresses.
Village wines use a commune name, premier cru wines identify a classified vineyard below grand cru, and grand cru wines name Burgundy's highest vineyard tier. The Côte de Beaune side includes Auxey-Duresses and Corton Et Rognet Grand Cru, while the Côte de Nuits range includes Gevrey-Chambertin Premier Cru Bel Air and Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru Les Pruliers.
Story
Romain and his sister Virginie now represent the ninth generation to lead the family estate. Since 2001, Domaine Taupenot-Merme has practiced organic viticulture, eliminating synthetic chemicals from its vineyard work. The date marks a defined farming choice that continues across an estate spread through the Côte de Nuits and Côte de Beaune.
Vineyards And Cellar
Organic viticulture removes synthetic chemicals from the estate's vineyard work. In the cellar, vinification involves minimal intervention, with indigenous yeasts used for fermentation and French oak barrels selected according to each cuvée.
Indigenous yeasts are naturally present on grapes and in the cellar, allowing fermentation to begin without an added commercial culture. French oak ageing gives wine gradual oxygen exposure and can add texture and spice, while tailoring the barrels to each cuvée keeps the cellar method linked to the individual wine.
Wines
The range moves through several Burgundy levels. Bourgogne Passetoutgrain provides a regional red, while Morey-Saint-Denis and Saint-Roman Rouge carry village names. Premier cru bottles include Gevrey-Chambertin Premier Cru Bel Air, Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru Les Pruliers, Morey-Saint-Denis Premier Cru La Riotte and Auxey-Duresses Premier Cru.
The grand cru tier includes Charmes-Chambertin, Mazoyères-Chambertin, Clos des Lambrays and Corton Et Rognet. Charmes-Chambertin is 100% Pinot Noir. The bottles therefore range from broad regional and village addresses to named premier cru vineyards and grand cru parcels.
In The Glass
Charmes-Chambertin shows red and black fruit mixed with leather, cloves and wood smoke. Rich fruits meet earth and mineral notes on the palate, followed by firm, well refined tannins and a very long mouthwatering finish.
Mazoyères-Chambertin is concentrated and silky, with a long, mineral, fresh finish. Gevrey-Chambertin Premier Cru Bel Air is medium bodied and lightly spiced, with fine boned tannins that fan out discreetly on the finish.
A Bottle To Understand It
Choose Mazoyères-Chambertin Grand Cru. It can be consumed now after decanting and is best enjoyed within 10 to 15 years, developing more complexity over that period. The bottle offers a clear grand cru drinking window, with immediate service and later bottle development both specified.
Anecdote
In 1963, the Taupenot family of Saint-Romain and the Merme family of Morey-Saint-Denis joined to establish Domaine Taupenot-Merme. The union brought two named family lines into one estate. Romain and his sister Virginie now represent the ninth generation to lead it. Saint-Romain remains part of the Taupenot family story, Morey-Saint-Denis remains part of the Merme family story, and both names remain joined in the domaine's title.
Final Word
Domaine Taupenot-Merme combines family continuity with organic viticulture, indigenous yeasts and French oak ageing tailored to each cuvée. Its range spans village, premier cru and grand cru Burgundy, including Charmes-Chambertin, Mazoyères-Chambertin and Clos des Lambrays.
Sources
- grandsbourgognes.com/en/wine-estates/bourgogne/domaine-taupenot-merme-26
- www.alliancewine.com/domaine-taupenot-merme/charmes-chambertin-grand-cru-2022-6368
- grandsbourgognes.com/en/domaine-taupenot-merme/mazoyeres-chambertin-18518.html
- tribecawine.com/product/2022-domaine-taupenot-merme-gevrey-chambertin-premier-cru-bel-air-6x750ml-105802820220600750