At the most recent Inspire Napa Valley VIP Dinner for the Spring Wine Weekend, K. LAZ donated a few White Burgundies for guests to enjoy alongside the Napa Valley classics- and this one was a showstopper. A team of six sommeliers unanimously named it their favorite Old World wine of the night. Winemaker Rémi Jobard, who grew up among the vines learning from his father and uncle, took over the estate in 1996 and has elevated it ever since. He converted all holdings to organic, earning certification in 2011 despite the region’s disease pressures. This bottling comes from a chalky, .45-hectare parcel with 30+ year-old vines next to the 1er Cru vineyard Gouttes d’Or. Fermented with indigenous yeast and aged in 20% new barrique, 30% used, and 50% in large older foudres, it’s beautifully balanced- allowing the wine’s mineral spine to shine. This is classic Meursault: richness and texture wrapped in a nervy spine and a long, lingering finish. We can’t get enough.

Having grown up among the vines, Rémi was primed to be a vintner from an early age, learning from his father Charles and his uncle Francois. When Rémi took control in 1996, he had inherited some of the most pristine vineyards in the world in the Meursault and Puligny-Montrachet areas of Burgundy. Rémi prioritizes land health, converting all holdings to organic and achieving certification in 2011, despite the challenges of regional disease pressure. While he also produces Chardonnay, Rémi is among the few dedicated to crafting high-quality Aligoté, a grape with deep roots in Burgundy, dating back to the 17th century. Though Aligoté now accounts for less than 5% of plantings, a select group of vintners, including Rémi, are committed to elevating its quality and preserving its place in Burgundy's vineyards.