Domaine Lorenzon : Mercurey 1er Cru "Pièce 13" 2021

Tasting characteristics and advice for the Mercurey 1er Cru "Pièce 13" 2021 from Domaine Lorenzon

Tasting

Color

The wine displays a deep ruby-red hue with bright purple highlights, revealing remarkable clarity and density.

Nose

The nose reveals delicate aromas of black cherry and blackberry, subtly accompanied by light notes of licorice. Discreet floral scents enhance the aromatic complexity, while delicate woody nuances add an extra dimension to this captivating bouquet.

Palate

On the palate, Pinot Noir shows all its finesse, with elegant, perfectly integrated tannins. The delicate structure gradually gives way to flavors of juicy red fruits, supported by a slight earthy minerality that brings precision and clarity to the whole. Lively acidity balances the tasting harmoniously, offering freshness and energy through to a persistent, elegant finish.

Food and wine pairings

This Mercurey 1er Cru "Pièce 13" 2021 pairs beautifully with a grilled cut of beef or a crusted fillet served with béarnaise sauce. It also elevates roast salmon with butter or coq au vin from Bourgogne. An assortment of soft cheeses such as Brie or Camembert perfectly rounds out the experience.

Serving and cellaring

The Mercurey 1er Cru "Pièce 13" 2021 is best enjoyed at a temperature between 16 and 18°C. Light decanting is recommended in its youth to encourage aromatic expression. This wine will reach its optimal peak between around 2028 and 2042, allowing for graceful evolution over several decades.

An outstanding Mercurey 1er Cru, a masterful expression of the Chalonnais terroir by Domaine Lorenzon

The estate

Founded in 1920 by Georges Lorenzon, Domaine Lorenzon is part of a family story that began in the early 20th century with the arrival of the great-grandfather from Veneto. Taken over in 1997 by Bruno Lorenzon, the fourth generation of winegrowers, the estate now spans around ten hectares in Bourgogne, 70% of which are classified as premier cru between Mercurey and Montagny. Recognized as one of Bourgogne’s most gifted contemporary winegrowers, Bruno Lorenzon has developed a winegrowing philosophy based on purity and minerality, enriched by international experience in South Africa and New Zealand. The estate stands out for revolutionary agronomic practices and complete control of the production chain, including its own cooperage. Now assisted by his sister Carline and his son Gautier, Bruno continues a tradition of excellence recognized by the Guide Bettane & Desseauve and the Revue des Vins de France.

The vineyard

The Mercurey 1er Cru "Pièce 13" comes from an extremely strict selection of specific blocks and the finest grapes from individually chosen vines. The parcels lie on clay-limestone soils with marl and limestone subsoils rich in iron oxide, offering optimal sun exposure on the slopes of Mercurey. The estate practices exceptional viticulture with high trellising reaching 1.80 meters, a density that can reach 20,000 vines per hectare, and intensive manual work totaling around 800 hours per hectare. No herbicides or pesticides have been used for more than 30 years, favoring cultivation methods to preserve vine health. Yields, deliberately limited to around 35 hectoliters per hectare, promote remarkable aromatic concentration.

The vintage

The 2021 vintage in Bourgogne was marked by a destructive frost that struck during the nights of April 6 to 9, significantly affecting the region’s yields. Despite these challenging weather conditions, the vintage produced concentrated wines thanks to this natural limitation of yields, encouraging full phenolic ripeness. Domaine Lorenzon was able to adapt its winemaking to the specifics of the year, producing a wine balanced between remarkable concentration and delicate finesse, characteristic of a cool, elegant vintage.

Winemaking and aging

The Mercurey 1er Cru "Pièce 13" 2021 includes a high proportion of whole-cluster fruit with intact stems. The grapes, hand-harvested into small six-kilogram crates, are cooled to 3°C upon reception. Winemaking favors infusion rather than extraction, with alcoholic fermentations stretching over six weeks using indigenous yeasts developed by the estate. Punch-downs and pump-overs are carried out slowly to create supple, harmoniously integrated tannins. Aging takes place in two phases: 13 months in oak barrels made by Bruno Lorenzon himself from wood selected in the forests of Bourgogne and seasoned for three years, then 5 months in stainless-steel tanks for refinement and stabilization before bottling. No chaptalization or acidification is practiced.

Grape variety

100% Pinot Noir