Bernard Moreau >
Burgundy >
France|
| Bernard Moreau is a viticulteur based in the village of Mancey, in the northernmost part of the Macon wine region. His 7 hectare family domaine is planted with 40% Chardonnay, 30% Pinot Noir, and 30% Gamay vines.
The 2007 vintage Moreau Bourgogne Chardonnay and Pinot Noir were released in September 2008, after an additional three months of aging in bottle. The 2007 vintage was a year of exemplary quality due to the perfect conditions at the time of harvest The Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes were brought in at ideal levels of natural acidity, sugar, and health on September 23rd and 25th, respectively. Both varietals have the excellent aromatics, depth of flavor, and fresh, long finishes that are the features of the 2007 vintage. The Bernard Moreau Bourgogne Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are wines that transcend their origins and are among the greatest estate-bottled Burgundy values available. |
| Bourgogne Blanc |
100% Chardonnay.
The Chardonnay vines average 20 years of age. They are severely pruned in the Guyot Simple method to prevent excess production. There are two parcels of vines with different soils. One is pure, white limestone soil; so pure is the limestone that it is almost clear at the top of its steep slope. This origin imparts the wine’s distinct minerality. The other parcel has a stony, red clay soil; its south-east exposure and slight slope ensures optimal ripening and gives the wine its structure and body. It is the combination of both origins that makes the Moreau Bourgogne Blanc at once rich, concentrated, fresh and complex. The wine is fermented in oak casks of which 15% are new; the balance being between 1 to 4 year old barrels). The lees are stirred once per week over a period of two months in order to enrich the young wine. The fermentation period lasts for 3 weeks and is followed by 8 months of maturation in barrel. Malolactic fermentation takes place in barrel, after which the wine is racked for the first time. In the month of May after the harvest, the wine is transferred to stainless steel tanks to harmonize the cuvee and complete its development on the fine lees. The wine was bottled in June 2008.
|
| Bourgogne Rouge |
100% Pinot Noir.
Moreau’s Pinot Noir vines average 25 years of age. They are planted on an east-facing lieu dit in the village of Mancey known as “Les Cras.” This name, which occurs in several other spots in Burgundy, denotes a vineyard with thin and stony limestone soil. The advantage of this type of soil for growing Pinot Noir is that it warms up quickly and retains heat, thus allowing the grapes to ripen fully. The vines are pruned severely (Cordon Royat method) to avoid over production and enhance the health of the fruit. The grapes are harvested by hand, sorted and then de-stemmed. The fruit is given a 5 day cold, pre-fermentation maceration to enhance the wine’s color and aroma. Fermentation lasts 10 days, after which the young wine is pressed and transferred to barrels. The casks are 10% new, and the balance are between 1 and 4 years old. In order to preserve the 2007’s fruity and supple Pinot Noir character, the maturation period was limited to only 7 months and the wine was bottled in June of 2008 – fully six months sooner than in earlier vintages.
|