Domaine du Chateau Philippe le Hardi Mercurey Rouge Les Cheneaults

Domaine du Chateau Philippe le Hardi (formerly Chateau de Santenay) was once the majestic stately home of the first Duke of Burgundy. Philippe le Hardi received his duchy from his father, the King of France, and became famous for banning the cultivation of Gamay in the Cote d’Or, saying in his edict of 1395 that only Pinot Noir could be used in the production of red wines from the already fabled slopes.

The magnificent Chateau has a flamboyant multi-coloured tiled roof ‘en tuile vernissee de Bourgogne’, one of the region’s most distinctive architectural traditions. Despite the property’s long history, it fell on hard times until it was taken over by French bank Credit Agricole in 2010. The current owners have invested heavily in the estate over the past decade, building a new cuverie in 2014 and putting in a place a new team, including Chef de Cave François des Moutis. He is focused is on revealing the quality of the domaine’s single-vineyard sites through sensitive winemaking. A more gentle extraction and less new oak than in the past mean that the wines today are supple, characterful expressions of their well-respected sites.

Vineyards

The fruit for `Les Cheneaults` is sourced from some of the finest hillside slopes in Mercurey, situated in the heart of the Côte Chalonnaise. The soils are rich in clay, but the limestone is still very present, as well as some areas of marl. The age of the vines is 30 years old. These characteristics give the red wines of Mercurey finesse, power and structure.

Vinification

Upon arrival at the winery, the grapes were cold soaked for seven days at 8°C to extract colour and flavour from the skins. Temperature-controlled fermentation lasted 12 to 14 days, with pump overs and punch downs performed daily. The wine was then aged in oak barrels, of which 15% was new, for 15 months.

Tasting Notes

This wine is dark garnet in colour with purple reflections. The nose is intense with aromas of ripe black fruit including cherries, and a touch of spice. The palate is full with great structure and silky, fine tannins. Concentrated black cherry and blueberry flavours are balanced by a subtle minerality. The finish is long and fresh.