Beaune
1er Cru Les Vignes Franches 2018
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
Beaune is the winegrowing capital of the region and has played an important role in Burgundian history. Profits from the annual “Hospices de Beaune” wine auction continue to provide support to hospice residents. 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, “Vignes Franches” signified a plot of land free from any taxation payable. This vineyard “climat” (among the lesser-known) produces fine white wines of great refinement, which can match those of certain Grands Crus in the Côte de Beaune. See from above, the vineyard is of triangular shape, with East/South-East exposure. The vine, from very fine stock, producing low yields. The soil is essentially on marl-limestone rock, quite light soil allowing for the wine to evolve with great finesse.
Viticulture
Grape variety: chardonnay
Soils: light marl-limestone rock.
Orientation: East/South-East
Surface area under vine: 0.2140 ha
Pruning: Guyot system
Yield: 27 hL/ha
Average age of the vine: 65 years old.
Vinification
Harvest date: 3 September 2018.
The grapes were handpicked and were sorted a first time in the vineyard and a second time when they arrived at the winery.
At the winery: The whole bunches of grapes were gently pressed for 2½ hours. The temperature of the must was brought down to 12°C then was immediately transferred to barrels with no settling to preserve a maximum of lees. Long fermentation (up to 10 months!) using indigenous yeasts for added complexity and freshness.
Ageing
Maturation: aged for 14 months with no racking or stirring to bring out all of this wine’s minerality. 35% new French oak barrels.
Barrels: Oak of French origin toasted at low temperatures for a long time to impart a subtle, delicate touch of oak were used.
Bottling
Bottling: The wine was bentonite fined and very gently filtered before being bottled using gravity in December 2019.
Number of bottles: 1,400.
Vintage
2018, abundance and excellence
After a winter that was almost too mild, the vintage was notable for two contrasting periods. Spring was sunny and totally devoid of frost, despite some localized episodes of hail, which had major impact on certain plots on the Côte de Nuits, which were hit in June. Then the summer was dry and hot, blocking the ripening process in places. Picking began early, with exceptionally abundant fruit in tip-top condition, offering the potential for some very fine wines.
Ageing potential: from 4 to 7 years.
Tasting notes
Despite the very solar vintage, this wine surprises with its freshness! Lots of citrus on the nose and white flowers. An impression of sweetness on the palate offset by a tangy finish.
