2018 Domaine Perrot-Minot Chambertin Clos-de-Bèze Grand Cru

Perrot-Minot is a winery in Burgundy, France, known for its exceptional wines from the Côte de Nuits. Perrot-Minot was founded in the first half of the 19th century and has been in the hands of the same family for five generations. In 1993, Christophe Perrot-Minot, the current winemaker, took over the management of the estate. Since then, Christophe has made significant improvements both in the vineyard and in the cellar, focusing on biodynamic methods and low yields to increase the quality of the wines.

The Perrot-Minot estate owns around 12 hectares of vineyards, located in the Côte de Nuits. They own plots in well-known villages such as Gevrey-Chambertin, Chambolle-Musigny, Morey-Saint-Denis and Vosne-Romanée. A key feature of their wine production is the use of very old vines, often over 50 years old, which contributes to the concentration and depth of their wines. The "Ultra" cuvees "La Richemone" and "Combe d'Orveau" are perfect examples of this.

Christophe Perrot-Minot is known for his pursuit of pure, elegant and well-structured wines. He uses minimal intervention during winemaking, ensuring that the wines best reflect the character of their terroir. The grapes are harvested by hand and the use of new oak is carefully dosed so as not to overpower the fruitiness of the wines.

Chambertin Clos de Bèze is considered one of the most prestigious and best grands crus in Burgundy. Its mid-position on a gently sloping, slightly cool and windy hillside gives it an inimitable textural quality. At the heart of this land is a deep substratum delicately layered with limestone scree and silt, deposited over millennia and patiently blended by meticulous age-old cultivation. Herein lies the subtle distinction between Clos de Bèze and Chambertin, dictated by the unique composition of Bajocian limestone and marl strata, a dance of mineral elements that evokes a rare geological heritage. Chambertin-Clos de Bèze, located at an altitude of 270 to 280 meters, has a slightly steeper slope than neighboring Chambertin. Bathed in light, these two adjacent terroirs lie halfway up the slope, swept by northerly winds and shielded from rain-bearing westerly winds. The extreme finesse and aromatic richness, combined with a pronounced floral bouquet, characterize the wines from this plot.

The winter and early spring of 2018 were noticeably rainy, allowing the vines to build up significant water reserves. These reserves enabled the vines to endure the warm and sunny conditions of the second half of spring. The vintage is also marked by an exceptionally hot and dry summer. Thanks to the water reserves of the winter, the grapes reached ideal ripeness, withstood the heat and developed in exceptional health. The bunches were in perfect condition when the harvest began on September 3. This vintage is concentrated and complex, reaching excellent ripeness while maintaining freshness. The wines are distinguished by their finesse and remarkable freshness, with a structured palate that reveals a multitude of aromas - a true virtuoso. This elegant and refined vintage has the potential to age for many years, gradually revealing its full complexity.

Perrot-Minot does not own any vines on Chambertin Clos de Beze. Nowadays it is common for producers to buy grapes from other producers who have vines on the more exclusive plots. We do know that the grapes come from vines with an average age of 55+. The wine gives crushed strawberry aromas with white pepper, cinnamon and blackcurrant that create a remarkably seductive aromatic profile. On the palate the wine is lively and refreshing, with a defined structure and a noble finish. The volume is impressive and the overall harmony is striking.