Site: north of Nuits-Saint-Georges, this is one the most celebrated villages of Burgundy, producing world-famous wines such as Romanée-Conti or Richebourg.History & tradition: the Gauls from the village of Vaona were drafted to serve in the army of Caesar for a period of 20 years. As a reward, the Emperor granted them vineyards, some of which were named "Romanée" by the following generations.Soil: chalky marl with excellent drainage and exposure ideally suited to the Pinot Noir grape.
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: 43 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 monthsOrigin of the wood: French oak forestsWeathering 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
"Supreme elegance! Beautiful colour, with intense and bright reflections. The diversity of the aromas is striking: wild cherry, nutmeg, camphor wood, fine leather...Later on, the wine takes on a subtle aroma of truffle, producing the most varied palette. With its perfect balance between tannin and acidity, the wine has a fleshy, sturdy body. Powerful and long aftertaste. A wealth of harmonious sensations characterizes this great Burgundy".
Serving
Temperature: 16°C (61-62°F).Cellaring: 8 to 30 years.