Château de Chamirey : Mercurey 1er cru "Les Cinq" 2013

Tasting characteristics and advice for the Mercurey 1er cru "Les Cinq" 2013 from Château de Chamirey

Tasting

Color

A beautiful deep garnet hue with ruby highlights.

Nose

Fresh, powerful and delicate all at once, the nose reveals intense black-fruit aromas dominated by blackcurrant and blueberry, complemented by notes of cherry and fresh raspberry. With aeration, more complex nuances emerge, evoking earth, mushrooms and undergrowth, while spicy touches of black pepper, cinnamon and vanilla add an extra dimension.

Palate

On the palate, the wine unfolds with a delicate, refined texture, recalling the fineness of lace across the palate. Fresh black-fruit flavors—especially blackcurrant and blueberry—are fully expressed, enhanced by notes of cherries in brandy and fresh pepper. The tannins, fine and supple, show a slight chalky texture that structures the whole. The long, harmonious finish reflects the beautiful integration of all components.

Food and wine pairings

This Mercurey 1er cru "Les Cinq" 2013 pairs ideally with lamb, notably a herb-crusted rack of lamb or a roast leg of lamb. It also matches perfectly with grilled or roasted red meats, game such as venison, as well as pork dishes in sauce. Enthusiasts may also enjoy it with small fish casseroles, matelote-style preparations, or aged cheeses such as Comté, Gruyère or Valençay.

Serving and cellaring

It is recommended to serve this Mercurey 1er cru "Les Cinq" 2013 at a temperature between 13 and 14°C in tasting glasses offering a broad aeration surface and a narrower rim to concentrate the aromas. Aeration of around thirty minutes in a decanter can be beneficial for young bottles. This wine can be enjoyed now or cellared until around 2023.

A Mercurey Premier Cru combining power and elegance

The estate

Founded in 1932, Château de Chamirey is now the largest estate in Mercurey, in Burgundy, at the heart of the Côte Chalonnaise. The vineyard covers 37 ha, including 15 ha of Premier Cru vineyards, with the monopoles “Les Ruelles” (red) and “La Mission” (white), on clay-limestone soils. Owned by Amaury and Aurore Devillard, alongside their father Bertrand, it stands out for estate bottling since 1934, sustainable viticulture, and a well-developed wine tourism offering since 2011.

The vineyard

The "Les Cinq" cuvée comes from a blend of the finest barrels from five parcels classified as Premier Cru in Mercurey: Les Ruelles (the estate’s monopole), Clos du Roi, Sazenay, Clos l'Évêque and Champ Martin. These parcels benefit from predominantly clay-based clay-limestone soils and are located at altitudes between 230 and 320 meters.

The vintage

The 2013 vintage in Burgundy was marked by variable weather conditions. Despite an uneven growing cycle, the wines produced show pronounced acidity and delicate tannic structures. Cool conditions helped preserve aromatic freshness and the wines’ minerality, while still generating sufficient concentration in the best terroirs.

Winemaking and aging

The grapes for the Mercurey 1er cru "Les Cinq" 2013 were harvested by hand and then carefully sorted before being fully destemmed. Maceration took place in temperature-controlled open vats for fifteen to eighteen days, with regular punch-downs to extract color, tannins and aromas. Malolactic fermentation occurred spontaneously. Aging was carried out entirely in new 228-liter oak barrels, giving the wine structure and aromatic complexity.

Grape variety

100% Pinot Noir