Since 1998, Domaine Bernard-Bonin has been run impeccably by Nicolas Bernard and Veronique Bonin, a daughter of the well-known Michelot family. The talented couple own and cultivate seven hectares, including vineyards in Meursault, Meursault 1er Cru, and Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru. Nicolas follows time-honored winegrowing traditions; hand-harvesting, respecting the phases of the moon, and employing minimal intervention in the cellar. Each wine expresses a personality derived from its terroir, its character fashioned by the climatic variances of the year, with the premier cru vineyards harvested last. The wines are aged in oak barrels for 15–18 months. During this time, each barrel is tasted individually to determine the optimum exchange between wine and lees, with no sulfur additions, only active CO2 to protect the wine in the barrel. The lees are stirred at the beginning stages of malolactic fermentation, which keeps the lees in suspension, and the wine reaches approximately 3g/L of residual sugar. There is no racking of the wines during élevage, and only one racking before going into tank in December for four months before bottling in March. Once the lees settle entirely, there is no more bâtonnage after April/May.
In synchronization with the lunar calendar, the wines are racked just before bottling to ensure a natural crystal clear and stable state, thus avoiding fining and filtration. The long barrel aging process allows for fully dry wines below 1g/L r.s. The wines continue to mature in the bottle, and the results carry the characteristics of the finest wines of Meursault: exquisitely fresh, rich, mineral, and vibrant.
Join Our Mailing List
