2010: a small crop of beautiful grapes
After an interminably long, cold winter, proper spring weather set in during the month of April with above-average temperatures that enabled the vines to start growing quickly. Bud break took place over just a few days around the 20th of April. The poor, cool weather in June caused a great deal of coulure (shot berries) and flowering was upset as a result. The first two weeks of July were warm and sunny. Véraison (colour change) began at the usual time in mid-August, but lasted for several weeks due to rain and cool temperatures. The grapes took their time to ripen. Fortunately, sunny weather returned in early September and lasted for three weeks. A small crop with undersized berries and well-aerated bunches made it possible to maintain the fruit in good, healthy condition and obtain good ripeness. However, it took a great deal of reflection before deciding when to pick each plot. We did not react in a panic-stricken way to what was wrongly described as deterioration of the grapes!
Grape variety : 100% Pinot Noir on a 2.06 hectare plot.
A large plot with the evocative name of "Les Champs au pied du Mont" (or, "The Fields at the Foot of the Mountain"), located on the slope overlooking the outskirts of Beaune. This vineyard, facing due east, produces both red and white wine. The Pinot Noir grapes in the lower part benefit from a very clayey soil that produces deeply-coloured, powerful wines. The high iron content in the soil oftern accounts for aromas reminiscent of soot or smoke.
The grapes were handpicked into small crates, then sorted and totally destemmed. The wine stayed on the skins for 21 days in temperature-controlled open oak vats. Pigeage (punching down the cap) was done twice a day during alcoholic fermentation.
100% malolactic fermentation
The wine was aged entirely in new oak barrels.
Duration of barrel ageing: 18 months
Tasted in September 2012
COLOUR: Intense ruby-red with purplish highlights.
NOSE: Deep with spicy (pepper) and smoky (gunflint) aromas.
PALATE: Thick and concentrated with liquorice and tangy fruit flavours Refined, well-structured, and thirst-quenching tannin.
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