Domaine Michel Juillot : Mercurey 1er cru "Clos Tonnerre" 2023

Characteristics and Tasting Tips for the Mercurey 1er Cru "Clos Tonnerre" 2023 from Domaine Michel Juillot

Tasting

Colour

The colour reveals a deep red hue, characteristic of Pinot Noir from this well-exposed limestone terroir.

Nose

The nose opens with ripe black fruit, lifted by spicy and forest-floor notes, creating a bouquet that is both generous and complex.

Palate

The attack is light before gradually gaining in power and depth. Rich flavours envelop the palate, carried by a supple texture, through to a finish marked by a peppery nuance that prolongs the aromatic persistence.

Food and Wine Pairing

The estate recommends this wine with a lamb chop served with olive purée and a light flageolet bean purée. More broadly, this Mercurey 1er Cru will pair beautifully with flavourful red or pink-cooked meats, particularly when they are seasoned with spices or served with vegetable accompaniments with earthy flavours.

Serving and Cellaring

This Mercurey 1er Cru "Clos Tonnerre" 2023 can be enjoyed in its youth, but also has the potential to age for several years. It is best served at a temperature of around 16°C to preserve the full finesse of its structure.

A Terroir-Driven Mercurey 1er Cru, Between Dark Fruit and Spicy Finesse

The Estate

Domaine Michel Juillot was founded in 1928 in Mercurey, in Burgundy, by Émile Juillot, although the family has been established in the village since the 14th century. Today run by Laurent Juillot, the fourth generation of winegrowers, with his son Pierre taking part in the winemaking since 2020, the estate covers just over thirty hectares between the Côte chalonnaise and the Côte de Beaune. It is notable for its mastery of prestigious climats such as Clos Tonnerre, which it farms as a monopole or quasi-monopole, depending on the source.

The Vineyard

This Mercurey 1er Cru "Clos Tonnerre" 2023 comes from a climat of approximately 3 hectares that the estate farms as a quasi-monopole. The Pinot Noir vines, planted in 1958, grow on hard limestone soil with chert, with a full southern exposure at an altitude of around 245 metres. This orientation promotes full ripeness of the grapes while preserving the freshness needed for the wine's balance.

Winemaking and Ageing

The Mercurey 1er Cru "Clos Tonnerre" 2023 is harvested by hand, with sorting on a table so that only the best berries are kept. The grapes are fully destemmed, then vinified in open-top vats with natural yeasts, for a maceration of around 20 days under temperature control. Pressing is carried out with a vertical press, yielding silky tannins. Malolactic fermentation is complete, and the wine is aged for around 16 months in oak barrels, a small proportion of which are new.

Grape Variety

100% Pinot Noir.