Bouchard Père et Fils Nuits-Saint-Georges Les Cailles 1er Cru
WHY WE LOVE IT
- Capital of the Côte de Nuits, this is the most southerly appellation, producing wines rich in tannin, which gives them strength, depth and a high potential for laying down from five to fifteen years.
Varietal Composition: 100% Pinot Noir
Elaboration: Manual harvest in small cases of 13 kg. Careful manual sorting of each grape. Following total or partial destemming, fermentation in small containers, gentle pressing ensure optimal vinification. Depending on the profile of the vintage, vatting lasts 15-20 days. Maturing is carried out for 12 to 14 months in French oak, with 40-50% new oak. Aged in the cellars of the Bastions of the ancient Chateau de Beaune offer natural ambient conditions that are perfectly adapted to aging the Premier Crus.
Tasting Notes: Intense aromas of berry fruit and spices on the nose. Rich, tannic and well structured, this wine develops additional roundness after a few years in bottle.
PRESS
2011 – 91 Vinous
2017 – 91-92 James Suckling
PRODUCER BACKGROUND
Founded in 1731, Maison Bouchard Père & Fils is one of Burgundy’s oldest wine merchant houses. Over the centuries, the House has been devoted to acquiring highly renowned parcels, in order to build a prestigious domaine: 130 hectares of Crus. The famed vineyards include: Beaune Grèves Vigne de L’Enfant Jésus, Chevalier-Montrachet, Montrachet, Corton, Corton-Charlemagne, Bonnes-Mares and Clos Vougeot to name a few. In 1995 this exceptional collection was purchased by Joseph Henriot, and is today part of Maisons & Domaines Henriot. Maison Bouchard Père & Fils has invested in the vine to bottle, the process is handled with meticulous care, to ensure the most faithful expression of each terroir. Installed since the beginning of the 19th century on the site of the ancient Châteaude Beaune, Maison Bouchard Père & Fils uses the underground galleries and bastions of this fortress built by LuisXI, 10 meters below ground, for the slow maturing of its wines under optimal conditions. Millions of bottles, including a rare collection of pre-phylloxera wines rest in the cellars today protected by 7 meter thick walls.