Côtes de Nuits-Villages
Au Clou 2018
This is the wine King Henri IV had in mind to go with the Sunday chicken he wished every family in France to enjoy. It is as accessible as it is amiable, honest and straightforward in taste.
Origin
This recent appellation, introduced in 1964, covers 163 ha of which 157 ha produce red wines. In the northern part of the appellation, some of the terroirs in the villages of Brochon and Fixin are able to bear this appellation, but it is in the southern part, beginning in Corgoloin (the frontier between the Côte de Beaune and the Côte de Nuits) that most of the vineyards are located. The climate is located on a slight slope and is not very far from the best known "Clos des Langres" and the quarries of the village.
The hillsides, including ”Au Clou”, are cut into the Upper Bathonian limestone and have an even, gentle slope. “Au Clou” is a large plot of vines that may have been surrounded by walls in the past, the word "clou", meaning "clos" in the XIV, XV and XI centuries.
Viticulture
Grape variety: pinot noir
Soils: the Upper Bathonian limestone
Orientation: South-East
Surface area under vine: 0.30 ha
Pruning: Guyot system
Yield: 51 hL/ha
Average age of the vines: 40 years old.
Vinification
Harvest date: 10 September 2018.
The grapes were handpicked. They were sorted a first time in the vineyard and again on the sorting table when they arrived at the winery.
At the winery: the grapes were 100% destemmed but not crushed (they were left whole) and were gravity-fed into tanks. Maceration of 22 days of which 3 days cold (12 ° C): Fermentation used indigenous yeasts only (no additives such as enzymes or tannins were used). 3 punchings of the cap.
Ageing
Maturation: aged on the lees for 16 months with no racking using a proportion of 40% new French oak barrels.
Barrels: French oak barrels that had been toasted at low temperatures for a long time for very delicate oaking.
Bottling
Bottling in March 2020, the wine was very gently filtered before being bottled using gravity.
Number of bottles: 2,069.
Vintage
2018 , abundance and excellence
After a winter that was almost too mild, the vintage was notable for two contrasting periods. Spring was sunny and totally devoid of frost, despite some localized episodes of hail, which had major impact on certain plots on the Côte de Nuits, which were hit in June. Then the summer was dry and hot, blocking the ripening process in places. Picking began early, with exceptionally abundant fruit in tip-top condition, offering the potential for some very fine wines.
Ageing potential: from 7 to 10 years.
Tasting notes
The color is ruby red. The nose exudes intense aromas of fruits like blackcurrant and cherry, embellished with toasted notes. On the palate, this elegant wine is supported by fine tannins.
