Clos de la Roche
Grand Cru 2021
This wine’s name alone makes one almost forget that it hails from one of the most famous Grand Cru villages: Morey-Saint-Denis.
Origin
Nestled between Gevrey-Chambertin and Chambolle-Musigny, Morey-Saint-Denis produces five Grands Crus.
Located at the north of the commune, Clos de la Roche takes its name from a boulder that the Celts used for their rituals. Lying adjacent to the Latricières-Chambertin vineyard, it produces Morey’s most robust wines. This vineyard is difficult to work, with such stony soil that was considered to be a “backbreaker” by the growers of yesteryear. This hard, brown limestone soil yields very firm wines that are well-suited to ageing.
Viticulture
Grape variety: pinot noir
Soils: very limestone, some scree and shallow earth.
Orientation: East
Surface area under vine: 0.09 ha
Pruning: Guyot system
Yield: 33 hL/ha
Average age of the vines: 53 years old.
Vinification
Harvest date: 2 October 2021.
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 completely destemmed but not crushed (they were left whole) and were gravity-fed into tanks. Total maceration of 18 days including 2 days cold (12 C). Fermentation used indigenous yeasts only (no additives such as enzymes or tannins were used). 4 punchings of the cap.
Ageing
Maturation: aged on the lees for 15 months with no racking using a proportion of 100% 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: by gravity in February 2023, after lenticular filtration.
Number of bottles: 298.
Vintage
A complex vintage!
It is both a winegrower and winemaker’s vintage ! 2021 will unfortunately be remembered quantity-wise for a long time by its disastrous frost early april. Direct consequence: this is probably one of the smallest vintages ever in Burgundy . It offers a very nice and subtle representation of each terroir and its expression, with fruity, freshness and great finesse wines.
Ageing potential: 10 years and more.
Awards
Guide Bettane & Desseauve 2024 - 94/100
James Suckling, MW - 96/100
Jancis Robinson MW - 18/20
Tim Atkin - 96/100
Tasting notes
With its lovely deep red colour, this wine gives off intense aromas of violets - its signature! - red fruit jam and smoky notes. The palate is full of elegance and finesse, with a tangy finish.
