(Please read my overview of the 2018 vintage here.)
Claude de Nicolaÿ-Drouhin said that 2019 was the first year that all the estate’s vineyards were worked by horse. Tractors were used only for sprays; speaking of which, for some years, the estate has been spraying with milk and minimal copper, and it is experimenting with copper substitutes. The estate has long been organic and biodynamic.
Claude de Nicolaÿ-Drouhin said that 2019 was the first year that all the estate’s vineyards were worked by horse. Tractors were used only for sprays; speaking of which, for some years, the estate has been spraying with milk and minimal copper, and it is experimenting with copper substitutes. The estate has long been organic and biodynamic.
You can see the harvest dates below for each wine. The harvesting began very early and lasted about three weeks. Picking took place only in the mornings, so it was not necessary to chill the grapes prior to the pre-fermentation macerations. For the reds, malo-lactic fermentations were very quick.
The grands crus are raised in 20% new oak, the premiers crus in 15% new oak, except for the Savigny-Fourneaux, which sees no new oak.
As at several other producers I visited, Claude said she thought the mid-slope vineyards did best.
Reds:
2018 Savigny-les-Beaune 1er Cru Aux Fourneaux
Floral nose. Dark color, calm, dark fruits, Savigny minerality and wildness. Excellent depth, length, minerality. Picked 10 Sept. — one of the last here. 13.5º alcohol. 80% whole cluster. (89-91)
2018 Savigny-les-Beaune 1er Cru Les Lavières
This wine was aged in three different cellars, presenting three different ambient conditions, so different developments. This assemblage shows spicy red fruit nose. Spicy fruits in the mouth, good freshness, energy, density, but also finesse. 80% whole clusters, 12.8% alcohol. Picked 7 September. (90-93)
2018 Pernand-Vergelesses 1er Cru Île des Vergelesses
Three parts in the vineyard — one planted in 1960s, the rest 1980s and 1992, making for an average age of 35-40 years. Iron nose. The mouth is dense and round with black pepper, dark fruits, some power, very fine tannins. Smooth texture. 12.8º alcohol, picked on 8 September. 100% whole cluster. (89-91)
2018 Corton-Maréchaudes
Floral nose. Smooth, elegant for Corton, excellent density and depth, red fruits with some earthiness, good length in mouth. Picked 30 of August, 13.8º alcohol. 38 hl/ha. 3.25 pH before malo, 3.6 after. 100% whole cluster. (91-93)
2018 Corton-Bressandes
Floral nose. Mouth is round, ripe, smooth and has earthy red and dark fruits, some spiciness. Smooth texture, some tannin on finish. Not heavy or overly powerful, but excellent density. 100% whole clusters. 13.2º, picking pH 3.2. Picked 1,2 September. (92-94)
2018 Corton-Clos du Roi
Malo in April. More finesse than previous, not as developed as other wines due to later malo. Lovely light, smooth texture. Red currant fruit. Picked 3 September. 30 hl/ha because very old vineyard. 3.25 pH at picking, 13.2º. High on slope.(91-94)
Whites:
For the whites, the grapes were picked 21-23 August, extremely early. Alcoholic fermentations were slow, taking up to December to finish, and malolactic fermentations took place in February. The estate is now using some foudres (very large barrels) from Stockinger, the outstanding Austrian barrel-making firm.
2018 Savigny-les-Beaune Les Saucours
Picked 23 August. From a vineyard purchased 10 years ago; two vintages of red were made, and then replanted in white. Sandy soils, middle slope, west-facing. This is second white vintage produced. Good freshness. Mineral nose, medium-weight body, good firmness, lemon-mineral. 13.2º alcohol, 3.17 pH, No new oak. (89-91)
2018 Pernand-Vergelesses 1er Cru Île des Vergelesses
Rounder, juicier than the Savigny, very good acidity and freshness, plenty of minerality. 20% new oak. New vines. 12.6º, 3.20 pH at picking. (90-92)
2018 Corton
Round, lime, pure, fresh, excellent depth and crispness. 2/3 from Bressandes, 1/3 from Chaumes. 1/3 in new Stockinger foudre. Still on lees. (92-95)