Domaine Lorenzon : Mercurey 1er Cru "Carline Clos des Champs Martin" 2021

Tasting characteristics and advice for the Mercurey 1er Cru "Carline Clos des Champs Martin" 2021 from Domaine Lorenzon

Tasting

Appearance

The wine displays a deep red hue with garnet and purple highlights, reflecting both its concentration and youthful character.

Nose

The nose reveals remarkable aromatic intensity, with notes of juicy red fruit—especially cherry and raspberry—alongside darker tones of blackberry and blackcurrant. With aeration, the bouquet develops toward aromas of cocoa powder, licorice, and sweet spices, enhanced by floral nuances of peony. Subtle touches of smoke, cardamom, and graphite add further complexity.

Palate

On the palate, this wine charms with its silky texture and outstanding refinement. Fine, perfectly integrated tannins structure a focused palate where flavors of black cherry, plum, blackberry, and blackcurrant come through. A mineral acidity brings freshness and vibrancy throughout the tasting. The mid-palate shows lovely density with notes of chocolate, cocoa, and licorice. The finish lingers at length with mineral, graphite-like and subtly earthy accents that reflect the limestone origin of the terroir.

Food and wine pairings

This Mercurey 1er Cru is an ideal match for grilled red meats, roasted feathered game, or poultry in a mushroom sauce. It also pairs very well with aged soft-ripened cheeses.

Serving and cellaring

The Mercurey 1er Cru "Carline Clos des Champs Martin" 2021 can be served at a temperature between 15 and 17°C. One hour of decanting will allow the wine to fully reveal its aromatic complexity.

An elegant, remarkably concentrated Mercurey 1er Cru from Domaine Lorenzon

The estate

The Domaine Lorenzon traces its origins to 1920, when Georges Lorenzon, an emigrant from Veneto, established the wine estate in Mercurey. In 1997, Bruno Lorenzon, representing the third generation, took over the family domaine, then spanning 4.5 hectares. Drawing on international experience gained in New Zealand and South Africa, along with expertise in cooperage, Bruno profoundly reshaped the estate’s viticultural and winemaking approach. Today, the domaine covers around 9 hectares, including 6 hectares in Mercurey and 3 hectares in Montagny, with the majority of parcels classified as Premier Cru. Bruno is assisted by his sister Carline in day-to-day operations, while his son Gautier is currently training in viticulture and oenology. Domaine Lorenzon is recognized by critics with four stars from Bettane et Desseauve and two stars from Revue des Vins de France, underscoring its excellence within Burgundy.

The vineyard

The Carline cuvée comes from an exceptional parcel of around 0.6 hectare located within the climat Les Champs Martin in Mercurey. This Premier Cru benefits from a south to south-west exposure on clay-limestone soils rich in gravel and fragments of white limestone. The vines, more than seventy years old, have developed deep root systems that draw from the marly and limestone subsoil characteristic of the appellation. The vineyard is managed according to a demanding philosophy, with an exceptionally high planting density reaching 14,000 to 20,000 vines per hectare. The vines are trained up to 1.70 meters in height on nine wires, optimizing photosynthesis and vegetative balance. No herbicides have been used for more than thirty years; the soils are worked mechanically with light tractors to preserve their structure. This meticulous viticulture requires around 750 to 800 hours of work per hectare, nearly three times the Burgundian average.

The vintage

The 2021 vintage in Burgundy was marked by a winter featuring a severe frost episode that affected many French vineyards. Spring then brought milder conditions, encouraging flowering at the end of May. June and July were particularly rainy, followed by unstable weather from mid-July to mid-August. Despite these climatic challenges, late-season conditions made it possible to reach balanced ripeness, producing wines of moderate concentration with measured alcohol levels.

Winemaking and aging

The Mercurey 1er Cru "Carline Clos des Champs Martin" 2021 grapes are harvested by hand in small 6-kilogram crates. The grapes are immediately cooled to 3°C to preserve their aromatic freshness. Winemaking incorporates around 75 to 80% whole clusters, bringing structure and complexity to the wine. Fermentation takes place with indigenous yeasts selected and cultivated by the domaine over a period of four to six weeks. Punch-downs are carried out gently to extract fine, silky tannins. Aging takes place in barrels for twelve to nineteen months, with around 40% new oak from the domaine’s own cooperage, lightly toasted to preserve the fruit’s expression. The wine is neither fined nor filtered prior to bottling, following a six-month resting period in stainless steel tanks.

Grape variety

100% Pinot Noir