Mercurey rouge “La Plante Chassey” 2019

Wine profile
This superb drop comes from a historic south-southeast vineyard, the same of its kind, planted a century ago by Derain's grandfather on rich, fine-grained loam. Hand-harvested pinot beurrot and pinot noir grapes, planted in a mixed arrangement, were once standard practice. The grapes were carefully transported in crates to preserve the state of full integrity. Some of the red grapes were destemmed and crushed on the ground before the undamaged grapes were added. The subsequent fermentation took place in traditional wooden vats. Once alcoholic fermentation was complete, the grapes were pressed in a basket press and finished, either in barrels already in use or in tonneaux, without clarification, filtration and only minimal sulphurisation.

Color
A radiating, medium-heavy purple.

Scent
This Mercurey holds an exciting balancing act between volatile acidity, reductive biscuit power and a certain oxidation. This combination seems intentional and skilfully presented, but definitely benefits from a little aeration. With longer exposure, notes of fresh raspberries and sour cherries unfold, combined with tobacco, stone and petrichor, rounded off by nuances of nut and almond.

Taste
On the palate, the wine reveals a pure, pronounced fruitiness that creates the sensation of juiciness and freshness on a bed of gentle tannins. This fruity presence is underlined by a distinct hazelnut note, complemented by renewed accents of stone and tobacco. The interplay of freshness, juiciness and nutty nuances contributes significantly to the enjoyable drinking experience.

Food recommendations
As an alternative to the originally suggested dishes, you could enjoy this wine with a dish of Wild Boar Stew with Polenta, Seared Ahi Tuna or Beef Carpaccio.