174 Mâcon-Chardonnay AC 2009
Pascal Pauget

Grape:100% Chardonnay (13% alc.)

This comes from 15 year old vines on a stony, east facing limestone slope, located in the village of Chardonnay. It is an outstanding example of Mâcon. Very pure with a salty waft of limestone on the nose, it shows ripe citrus fruits on the attack and finish, beautifully relieved by a teasing acidity. For drinking now to 2012.

Technical Information
Winemaker:	Pascal Pauget
Location:	Tournus, La Gelaine (lieu-dit)
Size of domaine:	6 hectares, planted on 5 different terroirs. 1.7 hectares for Mâcon-Chardonnay
Grape:	15 yr old chardonnay planted single guyot. Massale selected from Viré Clessé; planted on 3309 rootstock.
Terroir:	Kimmeridgian limestone, 280 metres above sea-level. Gentle 10% east facing slope with 20 to 20cm of topsoil.
Viticulture:	Worked with organic viticulture since starting in 1992 but not interested in certification. Debud only, ven en verts not necessary. Weeds are kept at bay by ploughing. The soil is butted up in February and debutted in early May. The soil is hoed 3 to 4 times during the summer. Copper and sulphur against oidium. No pesticides. No fertilisers. Takes the leaves off the north facing side of the vines. Manual harvest, between 45 to 55hh.
Vinification:	Destalked 100%. Pneumatic press for 4 hours. Allows must to settle for 24 to 36 hours. Uses enamelled cement cuves for fermentation. Indigenous yeasts. No chaptalisation. Fermented at 17 to 18°C for 2 months and often much more. Malolactic fermentation carried out, normally in spring. Elevages on very fine lees (the initial must being very clear) in cuves. Racked once before fining at the end of summer. 11 months elevage on average, extended to 15 months in 2008. No batonnage. Light fining and filtration by plaque. 1 bottling for each cuvee – using their own equipment. 11,000 bottles per year.
Press:

 

qty (bottles)

exc vat: £10.83