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Wine Description
The Story
The vines were planted in two stages by Auguste and Pierre Morey. They are old, weak vines producing little (between 20 and 35 hl/ha). Badly affected by fan-leaf degeneration, they have improved considerably since the application of biodynamic preparations. The parcel is situated at the far south of Montrachet also facing south. The soil is fairly dark, quite deep and stony. It consistently produces wines rich in alcohol, balanced out by their marked acidity. A great deal of substance, these are wines to keep for a long time.
The Montrachet family consists of grand five Grands Crus grown in the two villages of Puligny-Montrachet and Chassagne-Montrachet. These two share the Montrachet and Bâtard-Montrachet appellations. Chevalier and Bienvenues belong to Puligny, Criots belongs to Chassagne. These Grands Crus are the most southerly of the Côte-d'Or, and lie between Meursault in the north and Santenay in the south. Their origins go back to the Middle Ages - the work of the Cistercian abbey of Maizières and the Lords of Chagny. The wines of Montrachet (pronounced Mon-rachay) came fully into their own in the 17th century. There is no argument : this is the finest expression of the Chardonnay grape anywhere on earth. The Grand Cru appellations date from 31 July, 1937.
The underlying rocks date from the Jurassic, 175 million years BC. Exposures lie to the east and the south. Altitudes: 265-290 metres (Chevalier) ; 250-270 metres (Montrachet) ; 240-250 metres (Bâtard, Bienvenues, Criots). In the " Climat " of Montrachet, the soils are thinnish and lie on hard limestone traversed by a band of reddish marl. In Chevalier, the soils are thin and stony rendzinas derived from marls and marly-limestones. In the Bâtard " climat " soils are brown limestone which are deeper and, at the foot of the slope, more clayey.
The power and aromatic persistence of these lofty wines demands aristocratic and sophisticated dishes with complex textures : « pâté » made from fattened goose liver, of course, and caviar. Lobster, crawfish, and large wild prawns, with their powerful flavours and firm textures, pay well-deserved homage to the wine and match its opulence. Firm-fleshed white fish such as monkfish would be equally at home in their company. And let us not forget well-bred and well-fattened free-range poultry whose delicate flesh, with the addition of a cream-and-mushroom sauce, will be lapped up in the unctuous and noble texture of this wine. Even a simple piece of veal, fried or in sauce, would be raised to heavenly heights by the Montrachet's long and subtle acidity.
Serving temperature : 12 to 14 °C.
Wine Information
Lafon Vintage 2000
The Weather :
Interesting points of note:
* A cold winter, good pruning conditions with little rain.
* Spring was wet, bud-burst took place at the usual time.
* A spurt of rapid, even growth bringing early and consistent flowering (early June).
* July was cold and wet with intense pressure from mildew which we kept under control.
* August was hot and stormy. Several patches of botrytis appeared on the red vines.
* The beginning of September was hot and stormy increasing botrytis on the red vines but leaving the Chardonnay totally untouched.
* Another bumper crop judging by the flowering and stormy spells which caused the grapes to swell.
The Harvest :
We decided to harvest on 13th September. The vineyards of Volnay and Monthélie were struck by a heavy storm during the night of 12th to 13th bringing hail and 65 mm of water. Meursault got only 25 mm of water.
We had hoped to begin with the parcels of young white vines but, in fact, picking the Pinot Noir was urgent and in 3 days it was harvested in the following order: Volnay Champans, Volnay Clos des Chênes, Volnay Santenots and ending with the Monthélie.
* Yield was high: 40 hl/ha
* the degrees were reasonable, nothing more, between 12° and 13° potential
* There was about 10% botrytis which we sorted in the vineyard
We began with the young vines in Meursault, les Genevrières, and les Charmes and then we moved on to the old vines in the Premiers Crus beginning with les Perrières, les Genevrières and les Charmes.
Le Montrachet was picked on 20th September, fairly late.
We finished with Meursault village: Luraule et en la Barre followed by le Clos de la Barre.
* Ripeness in the whites was very good, between 12.7 and 13.8.
* Amazingly, the younger vines were riper than the old.
* Yield was high: between 45 and 55 hl/ha except for the Montrachet which was 40hl/ha.
The harvest ended on 21st September, having had no rain apart from the storm in the night of 12th/13th.
Vinification
The reds were difficult: the sanitary state and the quality of the harvest allowed little manoeuvre. We shortened the stay in tanks (15 days instead of 20), and used higher fermentation temperatures to encourage extraction. The condition of the grapes did not permit cold maceration for too long. We chaptalized lightly from 1/3 to 0.5) at the end of the period in the tanks.
The colours were satisfactory but not as good as usual, and the wines had less acidity than in previous years and the tannins were finer.
The whites were easier to vinify, the crop had been healthy and ripe and the juices settled well. Fermentation was very even and lasted between one and two months with no problems.
No adjustments were required.
Vintage 2000
The 2000 vintage in Burgundy, France, is generally considered a very good to excellent vintage for both red and white wines. It was a year marked by favorable weather conditions, which allowed grapes to ripen well and produced wines with good structure and aging potential. Here are some key characteristics of the Burgundy wine vintage 2000:
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Quality: The 2000 vintage is highly regarded in Burgundy and is often praised for its overall quality. It is considered one of the standout vintages of the early 21st century.
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Weather Conditions: The weather in 2000 was characterized by a warm and dry growing season, which was particularly beneficial for grape ripening. This allowed for optimal maturity and concentration of flavors.
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Red Burgundy: Pinot Noir is the primary grape variety for red Burgundy wines, and in 2000, it produced wines with ripe fruit flavors, balanced acidity, and good tannin structure. These wines are known for their elegance and finesse.
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White Burgundy: Chardonnay is the dominant grape for white Burgundy wines, and in 2000, it yielded wines with good acidity, freshness, and a balance of citrus and mineral notes. White Burgundies from this vintage have aging potential.
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Aging Potential: Both red and white Burgundies from the 2000 vintage have shown good aging potential. Many of these wines have evolved gracefully and can still be enjoyable today.
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Availability: While some of the top Grand Cru and Premier Cru Burgundies from 2000 may be scarce and expensive, there are still excellent village-level and lesser-known producers' wines available that offer value and quality.
Overall, the Burgundy wine vintage 2000 is remembered for producing wines that showcase the elegance and terroir-driven character for which Burgundy is known. It remains a sought-after vintage among wine enthusiasts and collectors.
Here are some of the top Burgundy wines from the 2000 vintage, though availability may vary:
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Domaine de la Romanée-Conti (DRC): DRC is one of the most prestigious producers in Burgundy, and their wines, including Romanée-Conti and La Tâche, are highly sought after and regarded as some of the best in the world. The 2000 vintage from DRC is exceptional.
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Domaine Leroy: Leroy is another renowned producer known for producing exceptional Burgundy wines. Their 2000 vintage wines, particularly those from vineyards like Richebourg and Romanée-Saint-Vivant, are highly regarded.
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Domaine Armand Rousseau: This producer consistently creates outstanding wines, and their 2000 vintage Clos de la Roche and Chambertin are among the top choices.
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Domaine Comte Georges de Vogüé: Their Musigny wines from the 2000 vintage are often praised for their elegance and complexity.
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Domaine Georges Roumier: The 2000 Bonnes-Mares from Georges Roumier is highly regarded for its concentration and structure.
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Domaine Dujac: Dujac's wines from the 2000 vintage, including Clos de la Roche and Clos Saint-Denis, are known for their finesse and balance.
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Maison Louis Jadot: Jadot produces a range of Burgundy wines, and their 2000 vintage offerings, particularly from the top Premier Cru and Grand Cru vineyards, are worth exploring.
Remember that the availability of these wines may be limited, and prices can vary significantly depending on the producer, vineyard, and current market conditions. It's advisable to consult with wine specialists, retailers, or collectors to find specific bottles and recommendations based on your preferences and budget. Additionally, personal taste plays a significant role in wine appreciation, so what is considered the "best" can vary from person to person.
