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Wine Description
The Story
Situated at the heart of the village, behind the house, this 2.1 ha parcel is a totally enclosed 'monopoly'.
It faces due east on a slight slope, in shallow, clay soil on a subsoil of hard limestone. The upper reaches of the parcel has been replanted in april 2004 (half an hectare). 0.8 ha are 50 years old and 0.8 ha are between 30 and 25.
The wines it produces are rich and fairly mineral ,with a pronounced citrus fruit aroma when young and marked acidity on the finish. This Meursault should be kept for at least 5 to 7 years to allow it to settle down.
Appellation | Meursault |
Parcel | Clos de la Barre |
Exposure | East |
Surface area | 2 ha 12 ares |
Gradient |
0 to 2% |
Plantation dates | 1950, 1975, 1999, 2004 |
Rootstock | 161-49 |
Graft | Mass selection, clones for the 1999 and 2004 vines |
Vintage 1996
1996 VINTAGE in Burgundy
Maturity levels were in general high following a long hot summer. The wines from the famous Pinot Noir have an intense ruby red colour with lush red fruit aromas. They are wines that are comparable with the outstanding 88s and 89s. The whites are just as outstanding full-bodied with elegant vibrant Chardonnay fruit and sweet white flower and grilled nut aromas. These are wines that have the potential to age magnificently.
Each harvest we hope for three things, favorable weather conditions, healthy grape clusters and high sugar levels. The 1996 harvest provided all of these. April was particularly sunny and brought about an early bud burst (18th of April). Following this we had what can be described as a flash flowering which leads to good pollination, creating high yields.
Arean had low rainfall levels, a sturdy breeze (which kept rot to a minimum) and a long ripening period. These factors created high sugar levels and good acidity within the grapes. Cloud cover in August, combined with the coldest September on record meant that the sugar levels were exceptionally high and so was the acidity: 12% potential alcohol with 5.5g of acidity for Corton Reds and 13%-14% potential alcohol with 6g of acidity for Corton Charlemagne.
As a result, most are very pleased with the 1996 vintage. The reds have an intense color, good tannin structure and concentrated Pinot Noir flavor. The white wines are also impressive, containing plenty of rich fruit character, a crisp acidity and are already showing an attractive bouquet.