2021 Ladoix, La Toppe d'Avignon, A.-F. Gros, Burgundy
About this WINE
Domaine A-F Gros
Anne-Françoise Gros, originally of Vosne-Romanée, is married to François Parent of Pommard, where they live, though their wines have been made in substantial premises in Beaune since 1998. Their joint living as wine-makers is ably assisted by their children Caroline (pictured) and Mathieu.
The domaine consists of Anne-Françoise’s share of Domaine Jean Gros, additional wines in and around Vosne-Romanée which she has bought or leased, and her husband’s share of Domaine Parent. He also offers wines under his own label, adorned with a black truffle. Her labels sport the outline of a female head, each one different according to the interpretation of the style of the appellation by Anne-Françoise and the artist.
There has been a sorting table since 2008, after which the grapes are destemmed but not crushed. The grapes are given a short cool maceration, then fermented with more pumping over than punching down, with the juice being concentrated by a similar machine to that used by Michel and Bernard Gros, if necessary.
Jasper Morris MW, Burgundy Wine Director and author of the award-winning Inside Burgundy comprehensive handbook.
Ladoix
The Ladoix appellation is designated for red and white (from Pinot Noir and Chardonnay respectively) wines produced in the commune of Ladoix-Serrigny in Côte de Beaune of Burgundy.
Red wines are in the majority (three-quarters) . Some of the Premier Cru vineyards of Ladoix-Serrigny are part of the Aloxe-Corton AOC of the neighbouring village rather than of Ladoix AOC, and vinified and sold as Aloxe-Corton Premier Cru.
There are 11 climats within the Ladoix AOC that are designated as Premier Cru vineyards:
- La Corvée , Le Clou d’Orge , La Micaude, Basses Mourottes, Hautes Mourottes (Red & white Wines)
- Les Buis, Les Joyeuses, Bois Roussot (Red wines only)
- Les Grêchons, En Naget, Le Rognet et Corton (White Wines only)
The climats located within the commune of Ladoix-Serrigny but are classified as Aloxe-Corton Premiers Crus (red wines only) are:
Clos des Maréchaudes, La Maréchaude , Les Petites Lolières, Les Moutottes, La Coutière, La Toppe au Vert.
The Grand Cru appellations of the Corton hill are overlapping in some areas, and are shared among three communes; Pernand-Vergelesses, Aloxe-Corton (major part) and Ladoix-Serrigny. Hence some of the Corton and Aloxe Corton vineyards which partially fall within Ladoix-Serrigny may be used for both red and white wine.
Pinot Noir
Pinot Noir is probably the most frustrating, and at times infuriating, wine grape in the world. However when it is successful, it can produce some of the most sublime wines known to man. This thin-skinned grape which grows in small, tight bunches performs well on well-drained, deepish limestone based subsoils as are found on Burgundy's Côte d'Or.
Pinot Noir is more susceptible than other varieties to over cropping - concentration and varietal character disappear rapidly if yields are excessive and yields as little as 25hl/ha are the norm for some climats of the Côte d`Or.
Because of the thinness of the skins, Pinot Noir wines are lighter in colour, body and tannins. However the best wines have grip, complexity and an intensity of fruit seldom found in wine from other grapes. Young Pinot Noir can smell almost sweet, redolent with freshly crushed raspberries, cherries and redcurrants. When mature, the best wines develop a sensuous, silky mouth feel with the fruit flavours deepening and gamey "sous-bois" nuances emerging.
The best examples are still found in Burgundy, although Pinot Noir`s key role in Champagne should not be forgotten. It is grown throughout the world with notable success in the Carneros and Russian River Valley districts of California, and the Martinborough and Central Otago regions of New Zealand.
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 comes from lower on the slope on rich soil, with around 1.5 metres of clay topsoil over limestone. The wine has a very pretty fruit profile with a little spice. In the mouth, there is sweet, juicy cherry fruit and a chalky, crunchy edge. The fruit was entirely de-stemmed, and six barrels were made.
Adam Bruntlett, Senior Buyer, Berry Bros. & Rudd
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