2020 Bourgogne Hautes-Côtes de Beaune, Sous Eguisons, Domaine Jean-NoëlGagnard
Critics reviews
A delightful Hautes-Côtes, with its lime peel and mineral nose, and an unstoppable freshness on the palate. Deliciously refreshing. Produced with grapes from young vines planted in the 0.41ha plot in the white marl soils near Rochepot, above the rocky cliffs of Le Banc Eguisons. The grapes are gently pressed and fermented in cask (one-third new).
Drink 2023 - 2035
Charles Curtis MW, Decanter.com (May 2021)
About this WINE
Domaine Jean-Noel Gagnard
Caroline Lestimé took over from her father, Jean-Noël, in 1989, though Domaine Jean-Noël Gagnard still retains his name. The estate’s modern reputation has very much been built by Caroline, who has made it her responsibility to develop the many expressions of Chassagne Montrachet terroirs across her range.
About Domaine Jean-Noël Gagnard
There are 12 different Premiers Crus to choose from; some now carry their own identity, having previously been offered under the larger Morgeot appellation. She has bought more land in Chassagne when available and affordable, and there’s a very well-situated white wine vineyard in the Hautes-Côtes, sold under the L’Estimée brand. Some very attractive reds from Chassagne round off the range.
In the vineyard
The vineyards are all organic, now certified; Caroline plans to put that status on her labels from the 2019 vintage.
In the winery
A little perspective is always an asset with Caroline’s wines: it’s not her style to manipulate or force, and any perception of dumbness is always mitigated once in bottle. Caroline is always very attuned to her wines’ progress during élevage.
Bourgogne Hautes-Côtes de Beaune
Hautes-Côtes de Beaune in Burgundy is located on the slopes and plateaus above the Côte de Beaune, one of the world's most renowned wine-producing areas, stretching along the hills and valleys.
The climate is characterised by its semi-continental nature, with cool winters, warm summers, and moderate rainfall. This region's terroir (the combination of soil, climate, and geography) significantly influences the character of the wines produced here.
Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are predominantly cultivated like the rest of Burgundy. These two grape varieties thrive in the region's soil and climate, producing exceptional wines with unique characteristics. Red wines made from Pinot Noir in Hautes-Côtes de Beaune often display elegant fruit flavours, delicate tannins, and a notable expression of terroir. On the other hand, white wines crafted from Chardonnay showcase crisp acidity, minerality, and a rich, floral bouquet.
While the Hautes-Côtes de Beaune might not be as famous as some of the more prestigious appellations within Burgundy, it is an exciting and promising region, producing distinct, elegant wines that reflect its unique terroir.
Chardonnay
Chardonnay is often seen as the king of white wine grapes and one of the most widely planted in the world It is suited to a wide variety of soils, though it excels in soils with a high limestone content as found in Champagne, Chablis, and the Côte D`Or.
Burgundy is Chardonnay's spiritual home and the best White Burgundies are dry, rich, honeyed wines with marvellous poise, elegance and balance. They are unquestionably the finest dry white wines in the world. Chardonnay plays a crucial role in the Champagne blend, providing structure and finesse, and is the sole grape in Blanc de Blancs.
It is quantitatively important in California and Australia, is widely planted in Chile and South Africa, and is the second most widely planted grape in New Zealand. In warm climates Chardonnay has a tendency to develop very high sugar levels during the final stages of ripening and this can occur at the expense of acidity. Late picking is a common problem and can result in blowsy and flabby wines that lack structure and definition.
Recently in the New World, we have seen a move towards more elegant, better- balanced and less oak-driven Chardonnays, and this is to be welcomed.
When is a wine ready to drink?
We provide drinking windows for all our wines. Alongside the drinking windows there is a bottle icon and a maturity stage. Bear in mind that the best time to drink a wine does also depend on your taste.
Not ready
These wines are very young. Whilst they're likely to have lots of intense flavours, their acidity or tannins may make them feel austere. Although it isn't "wrong" to drink these wines now, you are likely to miss out on a lot of complexity by not waiting for them to mature.
Ready - youthful
These wines are likely to have plenty of fruit flavours still and, for red wines, the tannins may well be quite noticeable. For those who prefer younger, fruitier wines, or if serving alongside a robust meal, these will be very enjoyable. If you choose to hold onto these wines, the fruit flavours will evolve into more savoury complexity.
Ready - at best
These wines are likely to have a beautiful balance of fruit, spice and savoury flavours. The acidity and tannins will have softened somewhat, and the wines will show plenty of complexity. For many, this is seen as the ideal time to drink and enjoy these wines. If you choose to hold onto these wines, they will become more savoury but not necessarily more complex.
Ready - mature
These wines are likely to have plenty of complexity, but the fruit flavours will have been almost completely replaced by savoury and spice notes. These wines may have a beautiful texture at this stage of maturity. There is lots to enjoy when drinking wines at this stage. Most of these wines will hold in this window for a few years, though at the very end of this drinking window, wines start to lose complexity and decline.
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Description
This great-value wine comes from an interesting vineyard above St Aubin’s Le Ban, beneath a limestone cliff that provides shelter. The soil is very white because of the chalk content, giving minerality but also reflecting the sun – ripening the grapes more quickly. The wine is intensely mineral and zesty, but with ripe orange and a slightly viscous texture.
Drink 2022 - 2028
Berry Bros. & Rudd
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