Chanson : Beaune 1er cru "Clos du Roi" Domaine 2021

The finesse and aromatic richness of a Beaune Premier Cru red wine from Chanson

The estate

Founded in 1750, Chanson is one of the most famous houses in Burgundy. The estate is located in a bastion erected at the beginning of the 16th century as a watchtower with 8-metre thick walls, nicknamed "La Tour des Filles" and now dedicated to ageing the house wines. Well known to enthusiasts of great Burgundy wines, the Chanson estate offers exclusive vintages that brilliantly reveal the expression of the greatest wine-producing villages of the Côte de Beaune.

The vintage

The Chanson estate covers 45 hectares of vines planted in the most beautiful appellations of the Côte de Beaune (Santenay, Chassagne-Montrachet, Puligny-Montrachet, Beaune, Savigny-Les-Beaune, Corton), exclusively in Burgundy Premier and Grand Crus.

The wine

This cuvée is a Beaune Premier Cru wine from the "Clos du Roi" vineyard, below the "Les Marconnets" plot. Formerly owned by the Dukes of Burgundy, it was annexed by King Louis XI after the death of Charles the Bold. The Chanson estate owns 35% of the land, i.e. 3 hectares, two thirds of which are dedicated to Pinot Noir. This terroir, composed of clay, sand and limestone, owes its uniqueness to its subsoil, whose draining pebbles contribute to the fruity aromatic signature and supple tannins of this Beaune Premier Cru.

The vintage

The 2021 vintage saw a disrupted weather pattern and low harvests. After a winter with significant temperature variations, spring turned out to be almost summery. The buds that had already formed thanks to the mild temperatures were strongly affected by the wave of frost that occurred between 6 and 10 April. The effects were visible very quickly and compromised the harvest. Alternating periods of rain and high temperatures triggered a frantic growth of the vine, which became vulnerable to attacks of mildew and powdery mildew. Heat and humidity characterised the summer. Fortunately, the cooler temperatures at the end of August allowed the grapes to ripen while maintaining the freshness of the fruit. The harvest took place in good conditions. However, the volumes were very low.

Winemaking and ageing

After the harvests, the grapes were meticulously sorted and each bunch was individually chilled. This stage allowed the vinification team to take control of the temperature for the pre-fermentation maceration phase of 4-8 days, to preserve as much of the fruit as possible. A partial destemming (70%) came before a short fermentation phase (2-3 weeks). Ageing took place in casks with a proportion of 25-30% new casks.

Blend

Pinot Noir (100%)

Characteristics and tasting tips for Beaune Premier cru "Clos du Roi" Domaine 2021 from Chanson

Tasting

Nose
The nose develops notes of peony and violet mingled with red fruit and spice scents.

Palate
Graced with a frank attack, the palate has a supple texture, expressing woody scents and fine tannins which draw out to a delicate finish.