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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 2019
“2019 is ‘the perfect storm’ of a vintage,” said Laurent Drouhin of top negociant house Drouhin, which owns vineyards in many parts of Burgundy. “We keep smiling because some wines will be great.” The mix included the hottest temperatures since the time of the Black Death 700 years ago (!), frost in April, rain in June, and no rain for nearly four months.
Drouhin’s harvest started on time on Sept. 13, and Laurent’s winemaking brother Frederic reports, “The first reds show an intense and beautiful color, good concentration, great balance and acidity and depth. The whites also show good richness with balance.” It’s a great year for reds, with slightly higher alcohol than usual.
The downside is very low yields. In just one April night, frost destroyed about 30% of the crop in Macon, though what’s left is making wines with good acidity and aromas.
Export company Le Serbet gathered reports from 65 producers in its portfolio, and head of marketing Peter Wasserman says the loss of grapes varies from vineyard to vineyard; in some places it may be as much as 50% to 60% lower than normal. Northern appellations such as Gevrey-Chambertin seem to have done best, down only 10%.
With less wine, you might predict even higher prices, but producers worry that this would drive away consumers.