2018 Domaine Levert-Barault Mercurey Le Printemps Rouge

France / Burgundy / Cote Chalonnaise / Mercurey Rouge
 
Domaine Levert-Barault Mercurey Le Printemps Rouge (owned by Domaines Famille Picard).

Wine Enthusiast tasting note 89/100: "Toasty, smoky hints of oak play around ripe but tart cherry notions on the open nose of this wine. The slender palate brims with juicy cherry and would also work as a chilled summer red. This wine is fresh, red-fruited and very appetizing".

Mercurey is a village in the Côte Chalonnaise sub-region of Burgundy. It is one of the five communal titles of the Chalonnaise and produces predominantly red wines from the Pinot Noir grape variety.

This wine is a blend of two areas in Mercurey, whose characteristics are quite different in certain points. The grapes for the Printemps cuvée mainly come from the Montelons plot, which is located on the Mercurey plateau, opposite Rully. Rather high altitude, cool temperatures, clay soils. Consequently, we obtain a nice freshness from the grape, which will be used to create a crispy, fruitdriven cuvée. The blend is made with a small proportion from the plot Les Vaux, whose vines are older, with perfect exposure, the grapes obtained are denser.  L'Automne cuvée is in reverse proportion.
 
Aged in wooden vats for 10 months.

There is a rumour circling the village: Levert-Barault is one of the oldest wine-growing estates in Mercurey. In fact, its establishment by the Levert family dates back to the 16th century with records of their appearance still remaining in the centre of Mercurey old town. This exceptional 9.5 hectare vineyard, whose iconic blocks are called Les Combins, Champs Martin and Clos des Barrault, was acquired by the Picard family in 1997. The estate team is responsible for crafting these untouched gems into unusual and precise wines. Levert-Barault's identity is formed by the five "climats" in Mercurey's Premiers Crus, organic viticulture, and respect for the vineyard plot from vinification to bottling. Travel Mercurey's secret terroirs on a tasting journey of the estate's authentic vintages.