Ladoix
1er Cru Hautes Mourottes 2022
If you are coming from Dijon, it is at Ladoix that the Côte de Beaune begins. Ladoix shares with Aloxe-Corton and Pernand-Vergelesses the honour of producing the famous wines of the hill of Corton.
Origin
Created in 1970, there are just 94 ha of vineyards in Ladoix, ¾ of which produce red wine. The appellation features 11 Premier Cru vineyards which benefit from eastern or south-east/southern exposure with altitudes varying between 230 and 325 m. The soils at the upper part of the slope where Les Hautes Mourottes is located are pebbly, reddish, limestone based with a high proportion of marls and considerable flint-limestone fragments.
Les Hautes Mourottes is located just a few metres from the famous Corton-Renardes vineyard. In old local dialect,
Mourottes referred to walls which would indicate that the vineyard was once surrounded by walls.
Viticulture
Grape variety: pinot noir
Soils: stony, reddish and limestone. Presence of marls.
Orientation: East
Surface area under vine: 0.2055 ha
Pruning: Guyot system
Yield: 39 hL/ha
Average age of the vines: 58 years old.
Vinification
Harvest date: 7 September 2022.
The grapes were handpicked. First sorting in the vineyard, second on the sorting table upon receipt of the harvest.
At the winery: 50% of grapes were destemmed but not crushed (they were left whole) and were gravity-fed into tanks. Total maceration lasted a total of 16 days including 3 days of cold maceration (12°C). Fermentation used indigenous yeasts only (no additives such as enzymes or tannins were used). 2 punchings of the cap.
Ageing
Maturation: aged on the lees for 17 months with no racking using a proportion of 40% new French oak barrels.
Barrels: French oak barrels that had been toasted at low temperatures for a long time for very delicate oaking.
Bottling
Bottling by gravity in March 2024, after a slight lenticular filtration.
Number of bottles: 994.
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 7 to 10 years.
Awards
JamesSuckling.com - 95 points
Tasting notes
With an attractive, brilliant garnet color, this wine reveals a nose of dried roses, black fruit aromas and finally some licorice notes. The smooth, fine palate reveals "salivating" tannins on the finish.