Winemaker Notes
The vineyard is situated in the lieu dit Rouges du bas, a parcel of just under one hectare situated in the heart of the Echezeaux, in the middle of the slope. The vineyards are planted on a north-south axis; average age of the vines is about 60 years old. Fermentation for this wine is 70% whole cluster; the fruit is put in tank without any crushing. A cold soak follows, then the alcoholic fermentation takes place with very little intervention,with pump-overs and punch-downs as needed. The wines are then gravity-fed into French oak barrels (100% new) for malolactic fermentation and aging.
Thin-skinned, finicky and temperamental, Pinot Noir is also one of the most rewarding grapes to grow and remains a labor of love for some of the greatest vignerons in Burgundy. Fairly adaptable but highly reflective of the environment in which it is grown, Pinot Noir prefers a cool climate and requires low yields to achieve high quality. Outside of France, outstanding examples come from in Oregon, California and throughout specific locations in wine-producing world. Somm Secret—André Tchelistcheff, California’s most influential post-Prohibition winemaker decidedly stayed away from the grape, claiming “God made Cabernet. The Devil made Pinot Noir.”
Claiming the two famous Grand Crus, Echezeaux and Grands Echezeaux, the identity of this village, Flagey-Echezeaux, rides predominantly on the glory of those two crus. All of the village or Premier Cru status vineyards in Flagey-Echezeaux market themselves under the name of their neighbor, Vosne-Romanée.
Echezeaux Pinot noir tends be light, bright and full of finesse, whereas those of Grands Echezeaux typically have more heft and complexity.