MERCUREY > BOUCHARD Ainé & Fils

MERCUREY 2024

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2022 2023 2024

Varietal

Pinot Noir.

Tasting notes

Colour: Intense ruby red.

Nose: Red fruits flavours with toasted, grilled notes.

Palate: In the mouth, tannins are supple and silky with good structure and robustness. A well-balanced wine with elegant fruity and spicy scents.

Food and wine pairing

This wine will be ideal with roasted or grilled meats, light game in sauce and most cheeses.

Serving suggestions

Ideally served at a temperature of around 15 to 16°C / 60°F.

Ageing potential

A nice red Burgundy to drink now or keep for 5 to 8 years in the cellar.

Origins

Mercurey is a local appellation in the north of the Côte Chalonnaise. It comprises 32 Climats classified as Premiers Crus and covers 650 hectares, including 545 hectares of reds (165 hectares of 1er Crus).

The cradle of Burgundy winegrowing, Mercurey is one of the oldest terroirs and has always enjoyed an excellent reputation. The village owes its name to the Romans who, during their occupation of the region, built a temple to Mercury, the god of commerce and finance.

The vineyards are located between 230 and 320 metres above sea level. They grow on the marl and marl-limestone soils of the Oxfordian. To the east, limestone and marl. To the west, a Jurassic structure and a crystalline base covered with sandstone. A whole section of the vineyard belongs to the Bathonian. On these white and chalky soils, or red and clayey, the vines find a warm affinity.

Vinification and maturing

The Pinot Noir grapes are handpicked, sorted at the arrival at the winery and 100% destemmed before 18 to 20 days of maceration and fermentation in wooden vats under controlled temperatures and with punching twice a day according to the Burgundian tradition. The malolactic fermentation is 100% achieved and followed by maturing and ageing in oak barrels (including 20%) for around 12 months.

Vintage : 2024

The year 2024 in Burgundy was marked by extreme weather conditions, including excessive rainfall and a significant lack of sunshine. These factors led to high disease pressure, particularly downy mildew, complicating the work of winegrowers. Episodes of frost and hail also caused substantial damage, especially in regions such as Chablis and the Auxerrois.

Yields were heavily impacted, with losses reaching up to 70% in certain areas. The Côte Chalonnaise proved more resilient, recording more limited losses. Overall, volumes are well below the usual average, reminiscent of the difficult 2021 harvest.

The late harvest required rigorous sorting to preserve quality. Despite the challenges, the harvested grapes reached excellent ripeness thanks to a sunny spell in September. The reds stand out for their richness and concentration, comparable to great vintages like 2010. The whites, characterized by their elegance, are reminiscent of the 2022 vintage.

Initial tastings reveal promising wines with concentrated aromas and fine structure. This vintage, though quantitatively limited, is shaping up to be a qualitative success.