Domaine Chevrot, Santenay Rouge 1er Cru `Clos Rousseau`
Vintage: 2019
Vintage | Product Code | Format | Closure | Availability |
---|---|---|---|---|
2019 | CV806B19 | 6 x 75 | Natural Cork | Available |
2019 | CV806N19 | 6 x 150 | Natural Cork | Contact Us |
Producer
Domaine Chevrot came recommended by the talented Jane Eyre, who worked with them when she first arrived in Burgundy from Melbourne. Based in Maranges, the domaine is run by brothers Pablo and Vincent, who took over from their parents in 2007 after gaining experience in Bordeaux and Central Otago. They farm the 19-hectare estate organically and have introduced horse-drawn ploughing (for less compacted soil) alongside larger barrels to refine the style of the wines. These excellent changes have helped raise the domaine’s profile.
Situated just 10 kilometres south of Puligny and Chassagne-Montrachet, Maranges has been gaining attention due to its wines' increasing quality and affordability. Domaine Chevrot is nestled in the heart of the appellation and is widely viewed as one of its leading producers. Their wines don’t receive SO2 treatment until bottling, due to Vincent being allergic, resulting in under 50 mg/l for red wines and under 60 mg/l for whites.
The brothers constantly look to improve their approach in the vineyards and the cellar. As a result, Domaine Chevrot became one of the pilot research wineries for the BIVB (Burgundy Wine Board) and currently leads a program on combatting the spread of Brettanomyces in Burgundian cellars. This research greatly benefits not only their wines, but those of Burgundy in general.
The Maranges Villages Blanc is sourced from vines grown on granite and gravel soils on the lower part of the hill. The resulting wine is defined by distinctive notes of praline and roasted hazelnuts, alongside a lovely texture balanced with lively acidity. The Maranges Premier Cru ‘La Fussière’ Blanc is sourced from a steep west-facing slope with chalky soils, which Pablo describes as “almost Champagne-like”. The nuances of this site contribute to the wine’s depth, clean fruit, fresh acidity and long finish. The brothers also have two hectares of vines in Santenay, and the Santenay Premier Cru ‘Clos Rousseau’ Blanc is made from fruit grown on chalky soils and aged using 20% new oak. The resulting wine is fresh and slightly honeyed with ripe stone fruit flavours, great depth and a long finish.
Domaine Chevrot’s red wines have a depth of flavour seldom found in Maranges. The Maranges ‘Sur le Chêne’ Rouge comes from a three-hectare ‘lieu-dit’ purchased by Pablo and Vincent’s grandfather. Utilising a 30% whole-bunch fermentation creates perfumed, red-fruit aromatics, alongside gentle tannins and crunchy acidity. The Maranges Premier Cru ‘La Fussière’ Rouge is deeper in colour than the villages wine, with rich but delicate aromas of dark fruits, fine tannins and a powerful yet elegant finish. Its structure is enhanced by 18 months of oak ageing, with 30% new oak used for the first 12 months. The Santenay Premier Cru ‘Clos Rousseau’ Rouge is crafted using 40% whole-bunch fermentation, enhancing the final wine's aromatic profile, whereas ageing in 30% new oak creates structure and complexity.
Vineyards
Pablo and Vincent Chevrot own 19 hectares of vineyard spread over Cheilly-lès Maranges, Dezize-lès Marange, Santenay and Savigny les Beaune. The `Clos Rousseau` vines grow mid-slope with a south-east facing aspect, surrounded by walls and murgers created from mounds of stones removed by the family ancestors to make the land more arable. Soils are comprised of clay silt on Bajocian limestone that provide the vines with vital nutrients and lend an elegance to the wines. All of the domaine’s vineyards are organically farmed without the use of fertilisers. Its two draft horses, Valentine and Hotesse, help work the land to control unwanted vegetation and are considered to be integral members of the Chevrot team.
Vintage
After a mild winter, the domaine encountered rare frosts on 5th April and again on 15th, when budbreak had already commenced. Despite the utmost efforts to increase temperatures on the lower slopes using candles and smoke, some of the grapes were lost to frost damage. However, the frost and associated moisture did manage to replenish water reserves in the soils in preparation for the hot summer that followed, which peaked at 42.9 °C towards the end of July and prompted the need for careful vineyard management to protect the grapes. By harvest, they had reached the perfect levels of phenolic ripeness and, although yields were reduced, the remaining fruit was in pristine condition and of the highest quality.
Vinification
The Pinot Noir grapes were hand-picked into small boxes, drip-dried and carefully sorted so that only the perfectly ripe, healthy bunches were used to make the wine. Once at the winery, they were transferred into vats, with 20% of the fruit left in whole bunches, to undergo a 15-day fermentation with indigenous yeasts. The wine was then aged for 16 months in French oak barrels, 30% of which were new, followed by a further 2 months ageing in stainless-steel tanks before being bottled.
Tasting Notes & Technical Details
A deep ruby red in colour, this wine boasts intense aromas of red and black cherry and blackcurrant, complemented by heady spicy notes of sage and clove and tobacco. The palate full-bodied and rich, brought into balance by structured tannins and an lifted mineral finish.
Alcohol (ABV)
13.5%
Acidity
4.9 g/l
pH
3.56
Other wines from this producer
Producer | Wine | Product Code | Features | Style | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Domaine Chevrot | Maranges Blanc | CV801 | W | Factsheet | |
Santenay Blanc 1er Cru `Clos Rousseau` | CV802 | W | Factsheet | ||
Maranges Blanc 1er Cru `La Fussière` | CV803 | W | Factsheet | ||
Maranges Rouge `Sur le Chêne` | CV804 | R | Factsheet | ||
Maranges Rouge 1er Cru `La Fussière` | CV805 | R | Factsheet |