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Wine Description
The Story
Le Montrachet has its origins in the 13th century. The Cistercian monks were donated a few vineyards on " le Mont Chauve " or " Mont Rachaz " between Puligny and Chassagne. Over the centuries, Le Montrachet was nicknamed the "vigne blanche du Seigneur" or "Roi des rois". It is today considered to be the greatest of all dry white wines in the world. On extremely barren land, it is the very proof that the greatest wines often come from the most extreme growing conditions. In 1838, Bouchard Père & Fils acquired 89 "ares" of this unique vineyard.
This Premier Cru parcel is tended by a vine-grower who takes care of the vineyard up to the harvest. Working with the cycle of nature, he enables the terroir to fully express its nuances from vintage to vintage.
WINEMAKING AND MATURING
Depending on the profile of the vintage, maturing is carried out for 10 to 12 months in French oak barrels, with a proportion of new barrels that may be up to 15%.
Ageing: The cellars located in the Bastions of the ancient Château de Beaune offer ideal ambient conditions. Thanks to their natural hygrometry and constant temperatures, the Grands Crus enjoy from their first youth an environment that is perfectly adapted to tranquil ageing.
Vintage 1989
1989 VINTAGE in Burgundy
Weather conditions were exceptional which led to a notably early harvest with perfectly ripened grapes in both colours. The reds with their velvety tannins have a fine colour, showing softer more elegant tendencies than the 88?s. They make a wonderful choice to drink on a special occasion. The whites in general were very precocious; ripe, powerful, rich, generous and well rounded; most should already have been drunk but the Grand Crus are superb for drinking now and over the next few years.
As regards the style of the 1989's, we now have one or two general impressions. The white wines are of great class. The Chardonnay in Burgundy has produced wines with ripe, powerful aromas and rich, generous body tending, in certain cases, almost to unctuosity. Initial comparisons have been drawn with 1971 and perhaps 1964.
The ripening of the Pinot Noir crop was somewhat hindered in several areas by unexpectedly large quantities of second generation grapes and extremely dry conditions. The resulting natural sugar levels were slightly lower than the recent yardstick year, 1985, but the fruit was in perfect condition. Overall quality will be good to very good.
The red wines have fine, deep colour and quite vinous, concentrated fruity aromas. They are well constituted and round and should be capable of ageing well. Initial comparisons have been drawn with 1966 and 1979.
In the Beaujolais, the Gamay has yielded powerful, fleshy wines lacking perhaps the charm of textbook Beaujolais. The wines are reminiscent of the 1978's.