Arnaud Ente : Meursault Village "La Sève du Clos" 2018

Characteristics and Tasting Tips for the Meursault Village "La Sève du Clos" 2018 from Arnaud Ente

Tasting

Appearance

The wine reveals a bright, shimmering pale yellow hue highlighted by luminous green reflections. This color shows a crystalline clarity that reflects the wine’s vibrant youth and characteristic minerality.

Nose

The nose is expressive and delicate from the very first approach. It unfolds subtle floral aromas that blend harmoniously with notes of fresh pear and lemon zest. Fragrances of toasted bread and warm peaches bring great finesse and elegance. The ensemble is complemented by hints of licorice, sweet spices, and citrus, creating a complex bouquet that reflects both the terroir and the estate’s meticulous winemaking approach.

Palate

The palate surprises with its liveliness and remarkable freshness. The attack opens on a fresh and supple texture, revealing crisp flavors of green apple and peach that unfold with elegance. Refined minerality accompanies aromas of candied lemon, pepper, and hazelnuts. Supple acidity supports a broad structure with exceptional persistence. The wine’s overall balance combines warm generosity, harmony, and richness, while the silky texture leads into a lingering finish that leaves a clear and delicate impression on the palate.

Food and wine pairings

This Meursault pairs beautifully with fish baked in parchment with a lemon butter sauce, salmon carpaccio, or delicate seafood. It also complements refined poultry dishes such as chicken or turkey. Enthusiasts may also enjoy it with delicately aged soft cheeses, a tarte Tatin, or a lemon meringue tart.

Service and cellaring

The Meursault Village "La Sève du Clos" 2018 can be enjoyed now, revealing its characteristic refreshing side. It will reach its peak over the next three to five years, developing greater complexity while maintaining its freshness. The aging potential is exceptional for this cuvée produced from centenarian vines, with possible evolution until around 2036.

A seductive and precise old-vine Meursault with remarkable finesse

The estate

The Arnaud Ente estate was founded in 1992 when Arnaud Ente, a winemaker’s grandson, took over vineyards leased from his father-in-law Philippe Thévenot. Located in the heart of Meursault in Burgundy, the estate now covers around 4 hectares spread across ten small prestigious vineyards of the Côte de Beaune. Arnaud Ente and his wife Marie-Odile jointly manage the property, working mostly on their own with only two vineyard workers. Their son Pierre joined the family business after earning a BTS in Viticulture and Oenology. Named “Man of the Year” in 2013 by the Bettane and Desseauve Guide, Arnaud Ente has established himself as one of the most important figures in contemporary Burgundy. The estate is certified organic and stands out for its relentless pursuit of aromatic purity, notably thanks to the revolutionary adoption of WineGlobes for vinification and aging.

The vineyard

The cuvée "La Sève du Clos" comes from parcel selections of the oldest plantings in the lieu-dit "En l'Ormeau", an old climat surrounded by stone located just below the town center of Meursault. The vines are well over one hundred years old, offering exceptional concentration and complexity. The soil is clay-limestone, composed of rich and deep clay characteristic of the lowest parcels of l’Ormeau. The vines benefit from an East-West exposure, maximizing the capture of sunlight throughout the day. The estate practices precision viticulture with Guyot-Poussard pruning, which preserves sap flow, limits plowing, and promotes plant cover between the rows. Harvesting is carried out entirely by hand and relatively early in order to maximize the tension of the wines.

The vintage

The 2018 vintage benefited from exceptional weather conditions in Burgundy, producing an extremely healthy harvest of overall high quality. Favorable climatic conditions made it possible to obtain grapes of remarkable generosity and balance, offering good levels of acidity that give the wines their characteristic refreshing character.

Vinification and aging

The Meursault Village "La Sève du Clos" 2018 benefited from vinification and aging carried out entirely or partially in WineGlobes, borosilicate glass vessels developed by the estate. These inert, smooth, and transparent containers allow an authentic expression of the grape by clearly revealing the subtleties of the terroir. Thanks to their hermetic design, they prevent oxidation and allow for a significant reduction in sulfur dioxide doses. Pressing is gentler and longer to refine the style, while settling is tighter to capture the fruit’s aromatic expression with greater precision. This revolutionary approach in the service of maximum aromatic purity reflects the estate’s perfectionist philosophy.

Grape variety

100% Chardonnay