Description
Chateau d’Etroyes Mercurey Rouge Premier Cru Clos l’Eveque is made from 100 percent Pinot Noir.
The “Clos l’Evêque” was in the XVIII century the best vineyard in Mercurey. It belonged to the Bishopric of Chalon-sur-Saône, near Mercurey, and the wine was used for the bishop’ receptions as well as for the masses (only the best wine could be served to God). In French “Evêque” means Bishop. It is also called a “Clos” because the vines used to be surrounded by a wall. Some parts of it still remain.
Lovely garnet color, medium intensity, limpid and bright, beautiful tears. The nose, clean and elegant, evokes ripe red and black fruits, rapsberry, cherry, blackberry, blueberry; the aeration is enriched by fine woody notes, roasted coffee, cocoa and a hint of licorice. The palate is ample, full, round and fleshy with a fruity expression of a beautiful purity; the evolution shows a fine substance, silky tannins supported by the freshness; the whole, perfectly balanced, presents a long torrefied finish on sweet spices.
From the 1er Cru “Clos l’Eveque”, situated in the Northern part of the Mercurey village.
Harvesting is done manually and in crates to avoid trituration and bursting of the berries. The grapes are totally de-stemmed and put into tanks at low temperature for 3 days minimum. The maximum fruit is extracted. Pumping and some light pigeages will allow us to extract the coloring matter and tannins, which will promise us a good aging. The fermentation temperature will rise gradually to more than 30°C in order to stabilize the color. Once the sugars are finished, about 15 days minimum, maceration ends in closed tank for the final outcome of the wine.
The juice from the vat will be drawn off, then the solid material will be pressed into a pneumatic press and will be added in small touches to the free-run juice. After settling of the juice for 24 hours, the wines are intoned for aging in oak barrels for a period of 11 months. Malolactic fermentation will gradually start and will end in barrels.
Pairs with Beautiful meats (roast beef) and cheese. After the wine has aged, it can also be served with game.
Review:
“The toast, tar and licorice notes of oak play on the nose of this wine, obscuring the cherry fruit. Ripe, juicy dark cherry and a vein of freshness show on the palate as the oak notes recede and form a backdrop along with firm but fine tannin. The finish is balanced, rounded and juicy. Anne KREBIEHL MW”
– Wine Enthusiast (December 2020), 92 pts
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