Beaune
1er Cru Les Vignes Franches 2022
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: 19 hL/ha
Average age of the vine: 70 years old.
Vinification
Harvest date: 7 September 2022.
The grapes were handpicked.
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 450L barrels with no settling to preserve a maximum of lees.
Ageing
Maturation: aged for 18 months in 1-wine 450L barrels with no racking or stirring to bring out all of this wine’s minerality.
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: by gravity in March 2024.
Number of bottles: 529.
Vintage
Abundance and excellence!
Despite the drought, we saw consistent volumes combined with quality. Almost no sorting was required as the grapes were superb. The winemaking process went smoothly. Perfect conditions offering the potential for some very fine wines.
Ageing potential: From 8 to 10 years.
Awards
JamesSuckling.com - 96 points
Tasting notes
With its beautiful golden yellow color, this wine reveals chalky, lemony notes, white flowers and a hint of honey. Elegant and rich on the palate, it offers brioche notes while preserving its liveliness.
