Back to SommPicks US
Early AccessSommPicks EU Direct
2017 Arnaud Ente Meursault #900536865
92.8
Cellar Tracker
Based on 6 reviews
Reviews 90 points Wine Advocate "...opens in the glass with notes of crisp Anjou pear, white flowers, mandarin oil, bread dough and beeswax. Medium to full-bodied, satiny and incisive, it's lively and precise, with a delicate but tightly wound core and a bright, mineral finish. (WK)" 91 points John Gilman "...offering up a very zesty aromatic constellation of pear, passion fruit, hazelnut, chalky soil tones and a floral topnote redolent of orange blossoms. On the palate the wine is crisp, full-bodied, long and beautifully balanced, with a pretty core of pure fruit, really excellent backend mineral drive and fine cut and backend tension on the complex finish. This is not a broad-shouldered example of Meursault villages, but rather a wine of great precision and intensity of flavor. Just gorgeous. (JG)"
Ridiculously low 2-day shipping. Add to cart to calculate cost.
Also From Arnaud Ente
About Arnaud Ente
Domaine Arnaud Ente, established in 1992, has emerged as one of Meursault's brightest stars, revered for its harmonious and terroir-driven wines. Arnaud Ente's experience working for Coche-Dury has honed his taste for mineral precision in his white Burgundies. Alongside his wife, Marie-Odile, the couple farms four hectares of sustainably managed vineyards, with the majority of their holdings in the Clos des Ambres, within the En Ormeau terroir. Their most notable vineyards comprise three parcels of premier crus in Meursault, Puligny-Montrachet, and Volnay.
Despite being a highly lauded producer among his peers, Arnaud Ente's minuscule production of just 1,250 cases per year has limited the wines' widespread recognition. Their tiny, fragmented holdings and low yields contribute to the rarity and allure of their wines, which are praised for their density, verve, and pristine flavors.
Arnaud Ente's winemaking process is characterized by its meticulousness and attention to detail. The grapes are often crushed before undergoing gentle pressing, allowing the juice to settle for 24 hours before being racked into barrels and larger demi-muids. Only 20% of new oak is used, and the wines age for 11 months before being transferred to tanks for an additional six months. Unfined and unfiltered bottling showcases the terroir and fruit character, emphasizing the wines' abundance and restraint.
Their Bourgogne Blanc, derived from two sites in Meursault and Puligny with vines dating back to the early 1970s, offers complex, elegant, and pure fruit. Village-level Meursault, primarily sourced from an old-vine vineyard that also contributes to the Clos des Ambres bottling, demonstrates incredible depth and pronounced minerality. Les Petits Charrons, described by Arnaud as his least-typical Meursault, presents a taut and floral contrast to the nearby 1er Cru Gouttes d'Or, which is concentrated, textural, precise, and majestic.
Arnaud Ente's early vintages were riper and fuller, but he has transitioned to a leaner, more focused, and reductive style. Utilizing foudres, glass (wineglobe), and steel, Arnaud emphasizes the purity of fruit. Long élevages, and the absence of filtering or fining, result in wines of immense complexity, dazzling definition, and sublime textures. Domaine Arnaud Ente's wines epitomize poise and liveliness, showcasing the full promise of the generous Burgundian terroir.