Site: located at the northern end of Morey-Saint-Denis, very close to the border with Gevrey.Histoire & tradition: the geological layers of Burgundy are responsible for outcroppings of white chalk that can sometimes be seen at the surface. This is perhaps the origin of the name (Enclosure of the Rock), unless the "roche" refers to a Druidic dolmen raised here at the time of the Celts.Soil: a very hard and difficult soil to plough on account of its rocky composition.
Viticulture
Plantation density: 10,000 vinestocks/ha in order to extract as much as possible from the terroir and limit the production of each vine stock.Pruning: Guyot.Yield: 35 hl/ha - purposely low, in order for the grapes to reveal every nuance of the terroir.Grape Supply: grapes and wines provided by regular supply partners.
Vinification
Maceration:
maceration and vinification take 2 to 3 weeks
indigenous yeasts
maceration and fermentation temperatures under total control.
Joseph Drouhin seeks total control of the process of extraction; extraction gives colour and substance but should never be detrimental to the finesse and typical character of the wine.
Ageing
Type: in barrels (20% in new oak).Length: 14 to 18 months.Origin of the wood: French oak forests.Weathering of the wood: Joseph Drouhin insists on total control of the weathering for a period of 3 years, one of the contributing elements to the elegance of the wine.Throughout the ageing process, decisions are taken only after careful tasting evaluation, barrel by barrel. The data obtained is then completed through technical analysis. As with every other Joseph Drouhin wine, absolute priority is given to the true expression of terroir and character of the vintage.
Tasting note by Véronique Boss-Drouhin
"A sumptuous wine ! The colour is a beautiful deep ruby. The nose is complex and brings to mind black cherries, with subtle notes of musk and cigar. The tannins seem coated by the velvety texture of the wine. The length of the aftertaste is exceptional: note of spices and candied fruit linger forever in the mouth. This wine gives a marvelous sensation of harmony and plenitude".
Serving
Temperature: 16°C (61-62°F).Cellaring: 10 to 40 years.
