2006 Domaine Jean Pierre Charton Mercurey ‘Vieilles Vignes’
Mission Codename: The Golden Valley
Operative: Agent White
Objective: Visit the commune of Mercurey and retrieve a delicious red Burgundy
Mission Status: Accomplished!
Current Winery: Domaine Jean Pierre Charton
Wine Subject: 2006 Mercurey ‘Vieilles Vignes’
Winemaker: Vincent Charton
Backgrounder: The village commune of Mercurey, located in the heart of the Cote Chalonnaise is one of the best loved appellations in the region. Originally designated in 1923, the region is protected from the wines in what is referred to locally as the Golden Valley.
The region is well known for its unique soil composition of white limey marl and calcic limestone, Jurassic gravel and rock and red clay. Also the vines grown in Mercurey are grown at an elevation of about 1000 feet above mean sea level. The village boasts 32 Premier Crus and its red wines are known for crisp fruit driven wines with excellent minerality.
Wine Spies Tasting Profile:
Look – Deep and intensely ruby red with a dense but clear core. Along the edges, the color remains ruby and then fades just slightly to pinkish ruby. When swirled, this slightly more viscous wine leaves evenly spaced thin legs that descend tot he wine below are varying speeds.
Smell – Medium in intensity with aromas of bright juicy red fruit including red and black cherry layered over notes of earthy herbal undergrowth, savory spice and hints of tobacco.
Feel – This full-bodied wine is dry and smooth in the initial attack. At mid palate, the finely textured tannins take hold and linger into the finish, making this wine almost chewy. Excellent minerality and bright acidity also add to the structure of this lovely wine.
Taste – Layers of tart and ripe red and black cherry as well as other red fruits (raspberry) meld with herbal and savory spice notes giving this wine a subtle meaty character. A good dose of earthiness emerges with subtle mushroom hints along with balanced oaky and woody flavors.
Finish – Long and lingering with the tart and ripe fruits gently fading and leaving this wines textured tannins and minerality behind for several minutes.
Conclusion – The 2006 Jean Pierre Charton Mercurey ‘Vieilles Vignes’ is a delicious red burgundy that finds itself perfectly at home with a variety of foods. Easy and approachable with great red fruit, a solid structure and a long finish we enjoyed this wine with simple tarragon roast chicken and pommes frites.
Mission Report:
WINEMAKER INTEL BRIEFING DOSSIER
SUBJECT: Vincent Charton
WINE EDUCATION: Learned about viticulture and winemaking from his father. Vincent Charton, son of Jean-Pierre graduated from the oenolgy program in Beaune.
WINEMAKING STYLE: Here are some words in our cultural practices (treatments) and our method of winemaking that we implement for our wines.
We seek to maintain maximum balance between different forms of life (earthworms, ladybugs ..) so as to maintain a significant biological activity in soils. We forbid any form of chemical treatments, insecticides, herbicides or chemical fertilizers. This allows to respect the land and the environment. No chemical treatment is used for rot. We only use active substances such as sulfur to control powdery mildew and copper to control mildew: only organic materials are used to ensure a healthy crop and grape quality.
We also carry out soil tests every 5 years on all of our vineyards. If necessary, we provide minerals such as potassium because it plays a very important role in photosynthesis. Our soils are also balanced by the burning of the vine canes as they provide organic matter.
We use only indigenous yeasts (natural), which provides a typical wine and what influences the final product (expression of “Terroir”).
No enzymes are used. We are try to extract maximum color through natural lees stirring and pump-overs
No acidification or deacidification is carried out.
We filter very slightly by kieselguhr under anaerobic conditions (without air).
WINEMAKER INTERVIEW
AGENT WHITE: Is there a specific experience in your life that inspired your love of wine?
VINCENT CHARTON: Our love for wine is not tied to a specific experience but that passion was passed down from father to son for generations. The Charton family is native to Savigny les Beaune in Cote d’or
WHITE: What wine or winemaker has most influenced your style of winemaking?
VINCENT: The evolution of consumer taste has really influenced our style of wine. Years ago consumers were looking mainly wines to age . Today everything has changed, they are looking for wine to drink within 5 years, wines that are both fruity and structured. Our goal is to combine the two: producing structured wines and that have the agibility to age.
It is undeniable that the concept of “terroir” must be followed to avoid the production of wines called “technological”.
WHITE: Who do you want to make wine? for yourself, for the consumer …
VINCENT: We’ll link the two. Producing wines that match the expectations of consumers while respecting our soil, the typicality of pinot noir and vintage
WHITE: In your opinion, what makes it so special Mercurey?
VINCENT: The Mercurey Vieilles Vignes has a beautiful aromatic complexity (red fruit aromas – black fruits). It is tannic and velvety with an elegant oak. The tannins are silky. The lingering aftertaste is quite long.
The Mercurey Vieilles Vignes is so special because of its terroir. It is a blend of three parcels over the age of 50 years. The Mercurey is grown on a red clay and limestone soils rich in minerals and organic matter thereby producing wines of great finesse.
WHITE: Currently, this type of work do you do in the vineyards or cellars?
VINCENT:We do not claim the label BIO but we work in this context. We work in a reactive manner to best take care of our vineyards while respecting the environment and our land. No herbicides are used. All vines are plowed regularly (6 times per year). We are also work to limit the yields (severe winter pruning, debudding ….).
In the cellar, the vinification is done as naturally as possible. Maceration for 3 weeks with natural yeasts, no addition of enzymes and chaptalisation is made. Maturing in barrels lasts 8 to 10 months. The wines are bottled on the property.
WHITE: How would you recommend people approaching your wine and wine in general?
VINCENT: Simply by making them taste the wine and explaining our passion, our purpose, our method of culture and natural winemaking. And by insisting on the idea that we should not forget this notion of “terroir” which I think is very important for producing quality wines that match consumers’ expectations.
Wine Spies Vineyard Check:
The location of the the Mercurey commune south of Beaune and northwest of Chalon-sur-Saone can be seen in this satellite photo.
