Domaine Faiveley Mercurey Clos Rochette 2018

Back in 1933 Georges Faiveley a well known grower in Nuits St Georges took a thirty year lease on land in the Côtes Challonnais from a Lyons Silk merchant, his son Guy purchased it outright in 1963.

The 14.5 acre Monopole, a Burgundian name for a vineyard 100% owned by the same family, of Clos Rochette has vines dating back to 1960. Its compact clay and limestone soils make it hard to plough adding to which it is strewn with the small rocks that give this vineyard its name and the chalky mineral backbone to the resulting wine. Picking and sorting is by hand and the Chardonnay grapes are gently pressed and run into a mix of tanks and oak,  55% is aged in oak barrel, 25% new, and the remainder in stainless steel tanks for 16 month to combine the mineral freshness and the nicely balanced oak flavours. This is drinking beautifully now with a floral nose with hints of cookie dough and a long rich palate of ripe white fruits, brioche and creamy oak with a balancing twist of citrus and minerals on the finish.