Maranges Premier Cru Les Clos Roussots

Area: 0.40 ha

Grape variety: 100% Pinot Noir

Age of vines: 70 years

Localities and terroirs: The Premier Cru ‘Clos Roussot’ faces south-east at an altitude of approximately 250 metres. The soil consists of enrochement limestone and limestone scree.

Vine-growing method: Integrated pest management; all rows are grassed to minimise erosion of this old, still very healthy plot, which produces small, highly concentrated grapes. 

Harvest: Hand-picked into 20 kg perforated crates.

Yield: 30 hl/ha

Winemaking: Sorting of the harvest followed by complete destemming of the bunches; cold pre-fermentation maceration for 5 days at 12°C; fermentation for 14 days with pumping over and some punching down to enhance extraction; followed by post-fermentation at 25°C for 3 days.

Ageing: 80% aged in barrels, comprising 30% new barrels and 30% barrels that have held one or two previous vintages, with the remaining 20% aged in stainless steel vats for 12 months. Blended after 12 months to combine the vat and barrel-aged wine prior to bottling.

Food and Wine Pairing: A rather tannic wine best left to age for 3 to 5 years, which pairs perfectly with game, cassoulet or a matured Époisses.