Domaine de MONTILLE (Meursault) -- 2018 Part I: Reds Tasted from Tank, Barrel Sample, and Bottle

(Please see my overview of the 2018 vintage here.)

Harvesting started on 28 August, and finished on 9 September, with one or two rain days in between. Alcohols are 12.7º-13º; the highest picked was 13,5º, and normally about 0.4º is lost while the wines are in cask. 

There was a bit less extraction than usual but use of whole cluster remained the same as normal. 

Except for the Volnay-Mitans, malo-lactic fermentations were all late; low temperature was used to block them. They took place from spring to late summer for the reds; for the whites, earlier malos are desired. 

Total acidities are higher than 2017, but pHs are lower; thus there is good acidity in the wines, but not as much bite. Compared to 2009, there is more acidity and less alcohol in these 2018s.

Yields for the reds are about 40 hl/ha overall, but it is uneven. Whites have  higher yields, but de Montille doesn’t have a lot of property in Meursault, and Meursault is where yields were very high. Overall yields for whites was about 45-50 hl/ha. (Continue reading here.)