Mercurey 1er Cru - Monopole - "Clos du Château de Montaigu" (Red)

Origine

Area: 1.9 hectares
Average age: 25 to 70 years   
Soil: Clay-limestone
Exposure: East-northeast

This clos, surrounded by a wall, at the foot of the ruins of Château de Montaigu, can be seen from the windows of Domaine du Meix Foulot.  Although it faces the Saône plain, it receives the sun throughout the day. The complexity of the terroir over these 1.9 hectares is reflected in the wine, which is soft and elegant yet structured and powerful: "An iron fist in a velvet glove”.

Vinification

The grapes are harvested by hand in crates which are transported every ¾ hour, at most, to the winery to be sorted by the team at the domaine, before being fully destemmed and going into vat for a period of 15-20 days, depending on the vintage. The yeast inoculation is natural. Cap punching and pumping over operations are carried out, depending on the characteristics of the vintage. Particular care is taken in the choice of cooper and the barrel toast to suit the personality of each terroir. All the wine is aged in barrels, of which 20% are new, using the wood only for the purpose of bringing out the personality of the terroir.  After malo-lactic fermentation (which usually occurs in May or June), the wine is racked into a vat to adjust the oxydo-reduction potential. Bottling 14-15 months after the harvest. The wines show very low turbidity, so filtration is not necessary and the aromas are allowed to express themselves to the full.

Notes de dégustation

Intense wild berry and blackcurrant aromas on the nose; joined by peppery notes on the palate. When young, the wine’s elegant entry to the palate and never-ending finish can be appreciated.  When more mature, the wine’s aromatic complexity (fruit, pepper, chocolate), underpinned by its powerful character, will be enjoyed. 

Mets d'accompagnements

It pairs perfectly with game (particularly feathered game), red meat and a nice platter of cheeses.

When the wine is young, open the bottle one hour before serving, when older (5-15 years), you can also decant it:  once the initial aromas have faded, the full force of the fruit will come through.