2023 Xavier Monnot Monthelie Les Duresses Blanc

Bright and composed, this Monthelie Blanc opens with aromas of lemon zest, green apple, and white peach, layered with subtle notes of crushed stone and hazelnut. The palate is fresh and linear, driven by lively acidity and a quietly textured mid-palate. There is a gentle roundness from time on lees, but the finish stays focused and mineral, with a clean, chalky edge that keeps everything in balance.

Sourced from the Les Duresses lieu-dit in Monthelie, the grapes are harvested by hand and gently pressed. Fermentation takes place with native yeasts, followed by aging primarily in neutral oak to preserve clarity and site expression. Lees contact adds nuance and texture without overt richness, allowing the wine’s natural freshness and structure to remain front and center.

Monthelie sits just above Volnay in Burgundy’s Côte de Beaune, offering cooler exposures and limestone-rich soils well suited to Chardonnay. Xavier Monnot is known for precise, understated wines that emphasize balance and transparency over power. Les Duresses, one of Monthelie’s most respected sites, contributes the wine’s tension, minerality, and quietly confident character.