
From a parcel of 45 and 70+ year-old vines, on the top half of the slope, very near the border with Chassagne-Montrachet. As one might gather from the name, the soil is a quite gravelly, lots of small rocks over Argovian marl. This is similar in composition to some special Volnay plots, and thus an inspiration for our vinification.
Having found many Les Gravières to be very fruit forward, we decided to do a 100% whole cluster, no SO2 ferment to help frame that fruit with lither tannins and high-toned aromatics. Hand-harvested, chilled overnight the clusters were put into a CO2-sparged wooden tank for a 14-day native fermentation. The fruit was untouched save for a daily sparging with CO2, with one pigèage each of the last two days of fermentation. The wine finished to dryness in tank before a year in 300L oak barrels with the finest of lies. No fining or filtration.
Restrained, deep nose of black fruit, spice and a touch of floral character. Dense, flinty, blackberry and herb, with fair, quite fine tannins. Long, black-fruit flavour. (16.5+) JancisRobinson.com
This is supple, rich and generous. it is super smooth. Sappy minerality underneath...so this is very juicy and has freshness. Sarah Marsh MW