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Bourgogne Blanc Sous la Velle Domaine Denis Carré 2021 DE
Tasting Notes: The Bourgogne Sous la Velle comes from vines planted in 1980, at the impressive density of 11,000 vines per hectare, in a parcel lying just below Denis Carré’s own 95 year-old Meu... rsault Vieilles Vignes, also in Sous la Velle. In the glass, this limpid, soft yellow-gold Chardonnay is a textbook example of how fine wine evolves over time after it’s poured. The honeyed Chardonnay nose is discreet at first, with aromas of salted Seckel pears, ripe white peaches, and (if you’re old enough to remember it) the smell of a freshly opened tin of Callard and Bowser® butterscotch. Later, aromatic suggestions of Marcona almonds, dried honeycomb, grilled brioche, and lime blossoms emerge as the nose opens out over time. On the palate, the wine is impressively concentrated, yet sleek, with an overriding impression of freshness and self-confident elegance. Ample, focused flavors echoing and magnifying the beautiful stone fruit nose fan out like a peacock’s tail, and are seasoned with palpable briny minerality, and persist in the long, sweet-spice-and-white-pepper seasoned finish. Drink now–2030 and beyond. Read More
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Denis Carré founded his estate in 1975 by purchasing a small collection of vineyards and building a modest winery in Meloisey, a village in the Hautes Cotes de Beaune. Over four decades, he’s expanded the estate to include tiny holdings in Meursault, Pommard, Auxey-Duresses, Savingy-lès-Beaune, Saint Romain and Beaune—fourteen hectares in total, spread out over nearly seventy (!) parcels. In 2008, Denis's children Gaetane and Martial joined the estate on a full-time basis (and in doing so, doubled the number of employees of the estate from two to four). In 2013, the family completed a full renovation and expansion of their winery. Today, Martial is in charge of the farming and winemaking, while Gaetane manages the business affairs; Denis and his wife Bernadette are still active in the vines and cellar. "Technically on paper," Gaetane jokes, "my parents are retired. But they are the best employees we have—they're always available and they work for free!"
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Viticulture in Burgundy was well established by the second century AD, and likely predates the arrival of the Romans. By the late Middle Ages, the influence of the monastic orders had organized wine growing in Burgundy as nowhere else in Europe. It was the monks who recognized that certain individual vineyards consistently produced distinctive wine. Land reform came with the French Revolution, and the Code Napoléon abolished primogeniture, establishing that all inherited property be shared equally among siblings. As a result, the ownership of many of the finest vineyards is fragmented, with some growers owning just a few vines in many different vineyard sites. The appellation Bourgogne may cover innocuous bottlings from large négociants, or (rarely) wines of true distinction from small growers farming interesting vineyard sites that don't qualify for "higher" appellation status.
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Chardonnay is a white grape variety that originated in Burgundy, and today is grown in many countries around the world for the production of still wines, as well as sparkling wines. The Chardonnay vine grows vigorously, and is planted in both cool and warm climatic conditions. More so than other varieties, the flavor profile of the Chardonnay grape reflects the terroir of where it is grown. Also, oak barrel fermentation and aging techniques are sometimes used with Chardonnay, which can affect the flavor and texture of the wine. Therefore, the style of Chardonnay wines can range from neutral, crisp, and acidic to rich, round, and buttery.
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