Clos Saint-Denis Grand Cru Wine

Clos Saint-Denis

Grand Cru

Grape Variety :

Pinot Noir.

Vineyard

Site: the smallest Grand Cru vineyard of Morey (except for the parcel of Bonnes-Mares), Clos Saint-Denis is located north of the village. Like all the other Grand Crus of Morey and Gevrey, it has a due east exposure.
History & tradition: according to tradition, the monks from the Church of Saint-Denis de Vergy (hence the name) planted this vineyard at the beginning of the 13th Century.
Soil: brown limestone on a Middle Jurassic layer; strewn with angular, flat stones that resemble broken china.

Viticulture

Plantation density: 10,000 vinestocks/ha in order to extract as much as possible from the terroir and limit the production of each vine stock.
Pruning: Guyot.
Yield: 36 hl/ha - purposely low, in order for the grapes to reveal every nuance of the terroir.
Grape Supply: grapes and wines provided by regular supply partners.

Vinification

Maceration:

maceration and vinification take 2 to 3 weeks

indigenous yeasts

maceration and fermentation temperatures under total control

Joseph Drouhin seeks total control of the process of extraction; extraction gives colour and substance but should never be detrimental to the finesse and typical character of the wine.

Ageing

Type: in barrels (20% in new oak)
Length: 14 to 18 months
Origin of the wood: French oak forests
Weathering of the wood: Joseph Drouhin insists on total control of the weathering for a period of 3 years, one of the contributing elements to the elegance of the wine.

Throughout the ageing process, decisions are taken only after careful tasting evaluation, barrel by barrel. The data obtained is then completed through technical analysis. As with every other Joseph Drouhin wine, absolute priority is given to the true expression of terroir and character of the vintage.

Tasting note by Véronique Boss-Drouhin

"Deep ruby red colour. On the nose, aromas of ripe cherry, lightly spiced up by a touch of cigar and exotic wood. With age, the aromas take on animal or gamey notes. The best time to drink a Clos Saint Denis is when the wine is mature (5 to 10 years of age, depending on the vintages) in order to enjoy the perfect harmony that exists between acidity, "gras" (velvety texture) and tannin. A lingering aftertaste of candied fruit is characteristic of this delicious wine".

Vintage

The 2016 crop was low in quantity but its quality provides a nice surprise. The mature grapes gave deep ruby-coloured wines displaying notes of black fruit mingled with hints of violet and spices. The palate is round and generous. The wines are typical of their terroir.

Serving

Temperature: 16°C (61-62°F).
Cellaring: 5 to 15 years.