Bourgogne Hautes-Côtes de Nuits
Bio 2019
Some vineyards have the power to attract by their appearance alone, and it is evident that the Hautes-Côtes fall into this category…
Origin
This appellation is unique as it is considered to be a regional appellation, though it is limited to a restricted area. The vineyards run parallel to those of the Côte de Nuits (to the west), but are higher in altitude. The soil is composed of limestone outcrops that Chardonnay thrives in and that lend character and lovely freshness to the wine. Only 120 hectares are planted with Chardonnay.
The vineyard is certified organic.
Viticulture
Grape variety: chardonnay
Soils: Jurassic limestone plateau
Orientation: East
Surface area under vine: 1.05ha
Pruning: Vignes hautes with Guyot system
Yield: 18 hL/ha
Average age of the vines: 36 years old.
Vinification
Harvest date: 26 September 2019.
The grapes were handpicked.
At the winery: the whole bunches of grapes were gently pressed for 2½ hours. The temperature of the must was brought down to 12°C then was immediately transferred to barrels (450L) with no settling to preserve a maximum of lees. Long fermentation using indigenous yeasts for added complexity and freshness.
Ageing
Maturation: aged for 16 months with no racking or stirring to bring out all of this wine’s minerality. A proportion of 25% new French oak barrels.
Barrels: French oak barrels that had been toasted at low temperatures for a long time to impart a subtle, delicate touch of oak were used.
Bottling
Bottling: the wine was bentonite fined and very gently filtered before being bottled using gravity in March 2021.
Number of bottles: 2,554.
Vintage
A legendary vintages?
According to Grégory Patriat, this second harvest at the Ursulines winery will go down as a legendary vintage just like 1969, 1979, 1999, 2009, and 2019, because the concentration in the wines is very high indeed. Years with drought and low yields are always great vintages in Burgundy. We had some new premier crus come online last year, with three in Chambolle-Musigny, one in Gevrey-Chambertin, and one in Nuits-Saint-Georges; Le Clos des Argillères. Furthermore, we revived our tradition of producing white wines in villages better known for their reds, with a white Fixin.
Ageing potential: from 4 to 8 years.
Tasting notes
With a pale yellow color, this wine reveals intense aromas of white fruits embellished with mineral and toasted notes. On the palate, freshness asserts itself and opens with a silky texture.
