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138 Chablis 1er Cru Montmains AC 2009
Domaine Pattes LoupGrape:100% Chardonnay (13% alc.)
This wine comes from 47 year old vines planted by Thomas Pico’s grandfather Gilbert Race in the sector of Montmain that can also be called 1er Cru Butteaux. Organic viticulture, hand harvesting, low yields, picking grapes later than most when they are fully ripe (Thomas tastes the grapes rather than relying on analysis), and vinification and elevage in four to six year old barrels are the key facts behind this fine artisanal wine. It has a firmer backbone than the Beauregard, and has dense, buttery ripe citrus fruit and mineral underscore. It will age very well. For drinking now to 2015+.
Technical Information Winemaker: Thomas Pico Location: Courgis: Lieu-dit ‘Corvées’ Size of
domaine:2.4 hectares Grape: Chardonnay (from clone 76 and on 41B rootstock) with an average vine age of 30 years. Planted double guyot and at a plant density of 5,000 vines per hectare. Terroir: Clay and limestone (Argilo-calcaire) soils at 240 meter elevation. South-west facing slopes with a 20% incline and a 1.5 meter soil depth. Viticulture: De-buds and no green harvesting. Ploughs (end July) and cuts the grass between rows. Copper sulphate to prevent oidium and Mildew. Bacillus bacteria to discourage pests. Organic fertilisers include ‘farine de plume’ or ‘flour of bird feathers’. Main vineyard objective is to limit vigour. Manual harvest at 40 h/h. Vinification: Additional grape selection at a ‘table de trie’. Pneumatic pressing with stems for 2.5 hours followed by an 18 hour juice settling. Fermentation with natural yeasts in 5 year old 228 litre barrels for 9 months. No chaptalisation. Full malo-lactic. Fifteen month élevage in 5 year old 228 litre medium toast barrels. Racked once and no batonnage, fining or filtration. One domaine bottling in December or January. Natural corks. Production 3,500 botles. Certfied Organic (AB2010) Press: