Domaine Boyer-Martenot

Meursault | Côte de Beaune | Burgundy

Vincent Boyer is an anomaly—a hard-working, hands-in-the soil grower focused on quality in an appellation where many wineries have hired enologists and coasted on Meursault’s reputation. Domaine Boyer-Martenot is a family winery where the wine in the bottle unquestionably lives up to its noble appellation.

While most Meursault winemakers blend, Vincent Boyer bottles many of his wines from his villages vineyards separately. Through the efforts of this estate, these single-vineyard Meursault wines have found their voice—showing just how varied and captivating great Meursault can be, even at its most “basic.”

It was this dedication to the true voice of Meursault that drew us to Boyer-Martenot wines so many years ago. While our partnership first started with Vincent’s parents, the transition to the estate’s fourth-generation has also been its crowning moment.

Meursault from Boyer-Martenot today is more expressive than ever. Vincent’s philosophy of less-is-more in the cellar means what you experience in each bottle is exactly what each unique vineyard and each perfect grape has to give.

NEW PROJECT IN LANGUEDOC: Vincent Boyer has teamed up with his childhood friend Emmanuel Lucas De Bar, who owns vineyards in the Hérault valley in France’s Languedoc, to form a winemaking partnership across appellations. Organically raised and crafted with the same care as Vincent’s peerless Meursault wines,
these new wines combine southern pleasure with serious quality. See “Boyer de Bar” selections below.

FARMING & WINEMAKING

The estate practices sustainable farming, avoiding pesticides and herbicides, and using indigenous yeasts for fermentation. Harvest is exclusively by hand.

Grapes are pressed then fermented naturally in temperature-controlled, stainless steel tanks. As of the 2017 vintage, winemaker Vincent Boyer has modified his aging regime to include cement “eggs” (a large, ovoid container made of neutral, unlined cement) and larger oak cask. Wines are aged first in cement egg; then transferred to cask for a further year of aging.

All wines bottled for North Berkeley Imports are unfined and unfiltered.

WHITE WINES

Bourgogne Aligoté

Crisp, juicy, refined: this gorgeous Aligoté is a step above, grown within the village limits of Meursault and borrowing a bit of honeyed goodness from its home town.

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Bourgogne Blanc

A stunning older-vine white Burgundy sourced from three separate estate vineyards (plus some purchased fruit): ‘Sous la Velle,’ half of which is rated Meursault village; ‘Les Pellans’ and ‘Les Grandes Coutures.’ Depth, power, complexity — and yes, it’s “just” a Bourgogne Blanc.

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Meursault ‘Cuvée Fernand Boyer’

A special bottling of fruit from four villages-level vineyards, as a tribute to Vincent’s grandfather and the founder of the family estate, Fernand Boyer. ‘Les Pellans’ and ‘Le Pré de Manche’ border premier cru plots; ‘Les Pelles’ and ‘Au Moulin Landin’ are located in the heart of the village.

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Meursault ‘Les Chaumes'

A “baby” premier cru ‘Perrières’ ! This perfect selection of fruit from ‘Les Chaumes’ is rich and racy, full of tangy white fruits and stony persistence.

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Meursault ‘Les Tillets’

The intense minerality of this vineyard’s soils (more chalk than clay) results in a Meursault of subtle aromas, suggesting wildflowers, fresh nuts and oyster shells.

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Meursault ‘En L’Ormeau’

Vines were planted by winemaker Vincent Boyer’s great-grandmother in 1924—making them some of the oldest vines in the village. The vineyard’s clay soils contribute to the wine’s velvety weight and suppleness on the tongue, similar to premier cru ‘Charmes.’

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Meursault ‘Narvaux’

‘Narvaux’ is one of Meursault’s highest-altitude vineyards, not far from premier cru ‘Perrières.’ These vineyards share much of the same expression: lively, mineral fruit, with lots of citrus zest and crushed stones. Boyer’s older vines here, from 45 to 50 years, give the wine an added depth and length.

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Meursault ‘Les Charrons’

At the foot of the slope, ‘Charrons’ is a natural extension of Meursault’s premier cru row. Here is a villages-level wine with more weight and intensity, with beeswax and yellow stone fruits; while at the same time, showing wonderfully lithe and refreshing on the palate.

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Puligny-Montrachet 'Les Reuchaux'

A lower-altitude villages-level plot, ‘Reuchaux’ is found near the village border with Meursault. Soils are deeper, with limestone subsoils. A bit more heft, a bit more flesh than your usual Puligny, but still chock-full of herbs and flowers and spice.

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Meursault 1er Cru ‘Charmes’

’Charmes’ sits at the village border with Puligny, facing southeast. A plush, seductive white Burgundy with just enough edge and herbal essence to keep things lively. A solid candidate for the cellar.

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Meursault 1er Cru ‘Genevrières’

’Genevrières’ sits at the heart of Meursault’s band of premier cru vineyards, and faces east. Clay-rich soils are believed to contribute to the wine’s deeply silky, plush texture. A golden example of Meursault’s endless charms.

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Meursault 1er Cru ‘Perrières’

The highest vineyard in Meursault as well as the plot with the chalkiest terroir, ‘Perrières’ is the leanest, most mineral of Boyer’s premier crus. Lime blossoms, crushed stones, white pepper, white fruits.

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Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru 'Le Cailleret'

Puligny’s ‘grand cru’ vineyard and every vintage an eternal wine, one that begs to be cellared so it can reveal its limitless complexity with time. Depth, grace, persistence—it’s all here.

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Wines from BOYER DE BAR, LANGUEDOC

Chardonnay ‘Les Peyrarols’

A pure Chardonnay wine raised in the south and vinified as a fine white Burgundy (similar to Boyer’s Meursault wines) with 12 months in French oak and another eight months in cement egg. With vineyards in organic conversion and two serious talents behind each bottle, the sky is the limit for Boyer de Bar! Tons of citrus and stone fruits, long and lovely.

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Sauvignon Blanc

A picture-perfect reflection of sun and serious seaside energy! Sauvignon Blanc from the region surrounding Pezenas in the Languedoc is charmed: the sea is but a stone’s throw away, with terroir that reminds of Burgundy with limestone and minerality galore; and just enough altitude to keep things fresh and lively in the glass. A true ‘glou-glou’ white for all your aperitif needs.

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Vin de France Rosé

The sunny south of France is incomplete without an ice-cold bottle of rosé at hand at all times! This red berry-kissed, lightly spiced blend of Cinsault and Syrah is just what hot weather days and lazy beach afternoons require. All tank made.

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Coteaux Bourguignons 'Les Grandes Gouttes' Pinot Noir

A gorgeous Burgundian Pinot Noir grown on equally gorgeous terroir, outside the village of Meursault. ‘Les Grandes Gouttes’ is raised for 20 months in cement egg and tank, just like winemaker Vincent Boyer’s other stellar Burgundy wines. A fresh and silky red, redolent of summer cherry and wild strawberry, with fine-grained tannins and tons of freshness.

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Vin de France Pinot Noir ‘Les Rives de L’Estang’

Southern sun, Burgundian sensibility — this heady and spiced Pinot Noir is grown organically on the edges of an ancient estuary in the Languedoc. Cool maritime breezes and rich soils translate to a medium-bodied, plush and supple red that’s aged like a premier cru red Burgundy and tastes like one, too!