Marsannay 2017
A recent appellation, Marsannay in the Côte de Nuits produces fantastic red wines as well as
a very significant production of white wines.
Origin
With 27 ha of white grapes under vine and 147 ha of red, the white wines of Marsannay remain something of a curiosity. The vineyards are planted in clay-limestone soil dating back to the Middle Jurassic period. Located in the southern part of the appellation, near the village of Couchey, the vineyard’s eastern exposure along with its small limestone pebbles and numerous faults allow for the production of elegant, pure wines. The 45-year-old vines are planted at an altitude of 230 m.
Viticulture
Grape variety: chardonnay
Soils: deep clay-limestone.
Orientation: East
Surface area under vine: 0.5162 ha
Pruning: Guyot system
Yield: 63 hL/ha
Average age of the vine: 45 years old.
Vinification
Harvest date: 15 September 2017.
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 of 450L with no settling to preserve a maximum of lees. Long fermentation (up to 10 months!) using indigenous yeasts.
Ageing
Maturation: aged for 18 months with no racking or stirring to bring out all of this wine’s minerality. 30% 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 April 2019.
Number of bottles: 2,400.
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: from 6 to 10 years.
Tasting notes
The color is straw yellow with golden reflections. The nose will seduce you with its aromas of sweet spices, white fruits associated with toasted and floral notes. On the palate, we find the floral aromas, the mouth is rich with a nice length.
