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Wine Description
The Story
Le Montrachet Grand Cru covers only 8 hectares between Puligny-Montrachet and Chassagne-Montrachet. This particular area was known during the 13th century as 'Mont Rachas'.'La rache' in the Burgundian dialect is commonly known as ringworm, a skin disease that causes hair loss. This baldness gives its name to the bare and stony hillside, which grew only thorny bushes until vines were planted. The terroir of Montrachet is a notable exception because its brown soils, usually reserved for Pinot Noir, transform here the Chardonnay into one of the greatest white wines in the world. The east exposure captures sunlight later in the evening. These factors are critical to achieve optimal ripeness. Our grapes come from a parcel with an area of 0.80 hectares which extends from the top to the bottom of the slope in the central part of North Montrachet, situated on the Puligny-Montrachet side.
Vinification & Ageing
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Fermentation
Traditional in oak barrels with complete malolactic fermentation -
Ageing
10 to 12 months ageing in oak barrels, 100% new -
Barrels
Louis Latour cooperage, french oak, medium toasted
Vintage 2004
2004 VINTAGE in Burgundy
2004 will be remembered as the year of wonderful surprises. The month of September was hot, dry and sunny contributing to an excellent harvest which in turn gave birth to fruity, elegant wines.
The harvest started on the 13th September in Burgundy, the Mâconnais and the Côte Chalonnaise during a long awaited spell of mild weather following a summer characterised by climatic instability.
These conditions slowed down the colouring of the grapes, disturbed the start of ripening and provided ideal conditions for the development of oidium. Luckily the return of a long period of warmth and sun from the beginning of September onwards accelerated the ripening process with a sharp increase in sugars.
This summery weather accompanied by a warm drying wind also allowed for the vines to maintain a satisfactory sanitary state. The hailstorms unfortunately destroyed a number of important parcels in the Mâconnais and in the vineyards of the Côte d?Or at different stages of their vegetative cycle. Contrary to 2003, nature showed herself to be kind and the wine-growers had to go ahead with intensive green harvesting to control the yields, taking off the damaged grapes or leaf-thinning.
In mid-september estimations put the forthcoming harvest at about 10% above that of an average harvest.
Although the particularly successful 2002 and 2003 vintages are tasting beautifully at the moment, it is still to early to define the profile for the 2004 vintage.
We will have to wait until after various tastings in November in Beaune, Chablis and in the Auxerrois region before getting a preliminary idea of the qualities of the 2004 harvest.