Pommard
1er Cru Les Arvelets 2017
The little village of Pommard is jealously guarded by its vineyards, on the flanks of the slope.
The fame of the nectar produced here goes back centuries: for indeed, as long ago as the Middle Ages,
the wines of Pommard were being shipped to the Popes of Avignon…
Origin
Between Beaune and Volnay extends the vast vineyard of Pommard which unfolds on each side of a monumental combe.
The plot "Les Arvelets" is located at the exit of this valley on the north slope. Exposed south with a clay-limestone soil rich in iron oxide covered with alluvium and silt, this premier cru is the steepest of the appellation.
The Latin roots of the word "arvelet" refer to the presence of old fields, plowing land at this location.
Viticulture
Grape variety: pinot noir
Soils: clay-limestone rich in iron oxide.
Orientation: South
Surface area under vine: 0.5158 ha
Pruning: Guyot system
Yield: 44 hL/ha
Average age of the vines: 45 years old.
Vinification
Harvest date: 11 September 2017.
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 100% destemmed but not crushed (they were left whole) and were gravity-fed into tanks. Maceration of 24 days of which 5 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 18 months with no racking using a proportion of 35% 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: The wine was not fined but was very gently filtered before being bottled using gravity in March 2019.
Number of bottles: 3,000.
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 limpid and brilliant ruby red. The very charming nose exudes aromas of fresh red fruits and cherry stones with some notes of violets and white pepper. On the palate, this wine has a nice length supported by some silky tannins. A very fresh wine for the appellation, far from the appellation standards!
