Winemaker Notes
Grapes are selected from different vineyards, generally from the Côte de Beaune. They are handpicked and then brought to the Drouhin cellars "en Chavet", on the outskirts of Beaune.
The destemmed grapes ferment in open wooden vats or stainless steel fermenters. The total fermentation and maceration last for about 16 days. Part of the wine is aged in barrels, part in stainless steel tanks so that the wine can acquire more complexity and keep its fruitiness.
The hue has usually a brillant ruby-garnet colour. The nose offers effusive aromas of crushed berries (raspberry, redcurrant and blackcurrant come to mind). On the palate, the wine is full of charm and very pleasant to drink : fresh and fruity berry flavours with light and elegant tannins. The alcoholic content is generally around 12.5. There is no residual sugar.
It is not a wine we recommend to cellar for many years. Drink it when young, up to two or three years. We suggest serving Laforet at 15°/16° C (59/61° F). Easy to match with food, it will be best with assorted delicatessen, poultry, white meat, au gratin dishes, roasted meat and soft cheese.
Celebrated as some of the best wine in the universe, red wine from Burgundy, otherwise known as red Burgundy, is Pinot noir. In fact Burgundy is the birthplace of Pinot noir and the source of the planet’s most sensual, delicate, valuable and sought-after Pinot noir wines.
Understanding and enjoying red Burgundy can stay simple, with a basic knowledge of its subregions, become more intricate by dialing down to the villages and vineyards or become a life-long passion, exploring climats (plots of vines), vintages and the post French Revolution land ownership laws. In any case, a fine red Burgundy will display refined nuances of black currant, red fruit, earth, spice, alluring floral aromatics and have great elegance, complexity and longevity.
Most famous, praised and collected of Burgunday are those from the Côte d'Or. Hundreds of millions of years ago, the area now called Côte d'Or was under a warm ocean whose sea floor has, over time, shifted and decomposed into various layers of limestone, sandstone and clay interspersed with ancient fossilized sea creatures. This is what is referred to as the famous escarpment upon which all of the highly sought-after Grands Crus and Premiers Crus vineyards can be found. In other words, from north to south, the best vineyards of Gevrey-Chambertin, Morey-St-Denis, Chambolle-Musigny, Vougeot, Vosne-Romanée, Flagey-Echezeaux, Nuits-St-Georges, Aloxe-Corton, Pommard and Volnay follow the path of this ancient sea bed.