Beaune
1er Cru Les Grèves 2017
In Beaune, wine and pleasure are at the top of the agenda!
Pleasure on the eyes in the form of the Hospices, and pleasure of the senses with the superb mosaic of nature and humans formed by the vineyards of Beaune.
Origin
The vineyards of Beaune are unique in that out of approximately 400 ha of vines under production, over 300 ha are classified as Premier Cru. The appellation is divided into two parts, north and south, which are separated by a division marked by the road that goes from Beaune up to Bouze-Lès-Beaune.
In Old French, “Grèves” referred to sandy soil that was well adapted to viticulture. The 30-hectare “Les Grèves” vineyard is assuredly one of Beaune’s best-known Premiers Crus. Seen from above, it forms a square block and occupies the entire length of the gentle, east-facing slope.
Viticulture
Grape variety: pinot noir
Soils: very stony and sandy
Orientation: east
Surface area under vine: 0,8800 ha
Pruning: Guyot system
Yield: 46 hL/ha
Average age of the vines: 70 years old.
Vinification
Harvest date: 4 September 2015.
The grapes were handpicked. They were sorted a first time in the vineyard and again on the sorting table when they arrived at the winery.
At the winery: the grapes were 50% destemmed but not crushed (they were left whole) and were gravity-fed into tanks. Maceration with 50% of entire grapes lasted a total of 25 days including one week of cold maceration (12°C). Fermentation used indigenous yeasts only (no additives such as enzymes or tannins were used). Infrequent punching of the cap (8 maximum).
Ageing
Maturation: aged on the lees for 17 months with no racking, 40% of new French oak barrels.
Barrels: French oak barrels that had been toasted at low temperatures for a long time to impart a very delicate touch of oak to the wine.
Bottling
Bottling: the wine was not fined but was very gently filtered before being bottled using gravity in February 2017.
Number of bottles: 5,056 and 200 magnums.
Vintage
2017, finesse
The growing cycle was thrown off-kilter by a very cold winter, late spring frost, then optimal conditions for rapid flowering, sporadic hail, and summer drought. Harvesting began in early September in the sun, and after several lean years, the vines finally produced abundant grapes, although with significant differences in maturity between whites and reds and from one region to another, which called for strict sorting.
Ageing potential: 10 years and more.
Tasting notes
With a brilliant ruby color, this wine opens with aromas of small fruits, slightly peppery but also floral notes. This wine reveals itself in the mouth powerful but with soft tannins. of a nice length, the finish is refined.
