Domaine du Cellier aux Moines : Givry Village "Clos Pascal" Monopole 2018

A Burgundy Pinot Noir of rare finesse and elegant refinement

The estate

Domaine du Cellier aux Moines was founded in 1130 by the Cistercian monks of the Abbaye de la Ferté. These monks were the first to build the famous walled clos enclosing the vineyards of Burgundy. Since 2004, the Pascal family has successfully set about restoring the estate and returning it to its former glory.
Meticulous plot-by-plot work and a replanting programme have been under way since 2006-2008, with the aim of creating a fruitful harmony between soil and vine.
Almost all of the estate's wines are currently undergoing organic certification, as well as biodynamic certification.

The vineyard
The Givry Village Clos Pascal Monopole
comes from a 30-are clos located within the historic walls of the Cellier aux Moines.
A steep terroir (20% gradient) abandoned after the phylloxera crisis, this vineyard was replanted by the Pascal family using a rigorous selection of Pinot Noir vines of great finesse.

Facing due south and benefiting from optimal natural ventilation, the vines grow on clay-limestone soils typical of Burgundy's great vineyards, as well as on shallow, stony soils of sandy clay-silt, which naturally limit the vigour of the vines.

The vineyard has been farmed biodynamically since 2017. Trained on individual stakes, the vines are never trimmed and yield just 5 bunches per vine, producing concentrated wines with a very fine texture.

The vintage
On 16 May, a hailstorm struck the Cellier aux Moines hillside. This setback led to a significant drop in yields but, thanks to favourable weather for the rest of the season, the vines continued their cycle normally. Optimal sunshine and warmth throughout the summer allowed the grapes to reach exceptional levels of ripeness and quality.
An understanding of the vineyard refined over successive vintages, the rigorous practice of biodynamics for the second consecutive year and meticulous plot-by-plot work made it possible to harvest healthy, fully ripe grapes of remarkable balance.

Blend

The Givry Village Clos Pascal Monopole 2018 from Cellier aux Moines is made from Pinot Noir, the quintessential Burgundy grape variety.

Vinification and ageing

Intervening as little as possible during winemaking is the estate's credo, the quality of the terroir and of the harvested grapes being the main natural assets in crafting a great cuvée.
Gentle vinification aims to infuse the grapes so as to enhance their finesse.

A week of cold maceration precedes fermentation, which starts spontaneously with indigenous yeasts. Depending on the vintage, the proportion of whole bunches varies in order to preserve as much of the berries' aromatic and flavour potential as possible.
After 3 weeks of vinification, the wine is aged in oak barrels (50% new) for 18 months, followed by a further 30 days of ageing in tank.

Tasting

Colour
The wine displays a beautiful deep ruby colour.
Nose
The nose combines notes of violet and blueberry.
Palate
Fleshy and concentrated, the palate seduces with its fine tannins, refinement and elegance.