Savigny-Lès-Beaune
1er Cru Aux Guettes 2018
Balance and maturity are the two words that come to mind when Savigny’s vineyards are mentioned.
They are located three kilometres north of Beaune.
Origin
Savigny’s vineyards form a V-shape and are located at the meeting place of a valley and the plain, offering some of the most picturesque scenery in the Côte d’Or. These vineyards are of ancient lineage. For much of their history, they belonged to the domaine of the Dukes of Bourgogne, to neighbouring religious houses, or to the Knights of Malta. An imposing 14th century castle testifies to the appellation's aristocratic qualifications.
Located on the hillside below the Chenôve Woods to the east of the village, the plot "Aux Guettes" is facing due south. The soil is quite complex: mixture of limestone pebbles, scree and clay. This is one of the most famous climates of the appellation.
The name "Guettes" has its origin in the verb "watch". The name thus indicated the places in altitude where one could supervise the country and the roads.
Viticulture
Grape variety: pinot noir
Soils: complex, mixture of limestone, scree and clay.
Orientation: South
Surface area under vine: 0.3440 ha
Pruning: Guyot system
Yield: 25 hL/ha
Average age of the vines: 45 years old.
Vinification
Harvest date: 11 September 2018.
The grapes were sorted a first time in the vineyard and a second time on the sorting table when they arrived at the winery.
At the winery: the grapes were 50% destemmed but not crushed (they were left whole) and were gravity-fed into tanks. Maceration with 50% whole bunches of 21 days including 4 days cold (12 ° C): Fermentation used indigenous yeasts only (no additives such as enzymes or tannins were used). Vinification without sulfur. 4 punchings of the cap.
Ageing
Maturation: aged on the lees for 14 months with no racking using a proportion of 30% 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 in December 2019, the wine was very gently filtered before being bottled using gravity.
Number of bottles: 3,889.
Vintage
2018 , abundance and excellence
After a winter that was almost too mild, the vintage was notable for two contrasting periods. Spring was sunny and totally devoid of frost, despite some localized episodes of hail, which had major impact on certain plots on the Côte de Nuits, which were hit in June. Then the summer was dry and hot, blocking the ripening process in places. Picking began early, with exceptionally abundant fruit in tip-top condition, offering the potential for some very fine wines.
Ageing potential: from 7 to 10 years.
Tasting notes
The color is bright garnet red. The complex nose exudes intense aromas of peonies and dried roses mixed with aromas of strawberries. On the palate, this tender and fleshy wine reveals a finish on freshness.
