Domaine Merlin : Mâcon La Roche Vineuse "Les Cras" 2022

Characteristics and tasting notes of the Mâcon La Roche Vineuse "Les Cras" 2022 from Domaine Merlin

Tasting

Appearance

The wine reveals a pale gold hue adorned with subtle highlights.

Nose

Initially reserved, the nose then unveils a beautiful aromatic power with buttery notes. It exhales aromas of exotic fruits, pear and hazelnut, underscored by a hint of citrus and marked minerality.

Palate

The palate offers a full and powerful texture, carried by an intense mineral framework derived from the limestone soils. The whole retains great freshness thanks to a balanced acidity, extending towards a finish of remarkable persistence.

Food and wine pairings

This white wine pairs ideally with seafood such as gratinated oysters or fish with parsley butter. It also wonderfully accompanies creamy dishes such as a risotto or a leek tart, as well as mild cheeses, whether fresh or lightly aged.

Serving and cellaring

For optimal tasting, it is advisable to serve the Mâcon La Roche Vineuse "Les Cras" 2022 between 10 and 11°C as an aperitif, and between 11 and 12°C during a meal. This wine can be enjoyed in its youth but will continue to evolve favourably until around 2032.

The mineral expression of an emblematic terroir of the Mâconnais by Domaine Merlin

The estate

Located in France, in the Burgundy region, Domaine Merlin was founded in 1987 by Olivier and Corinne Merlin. Starting from a handful of hectares, they now watch over a vineyard of around 25 hectares. Driven by an artisanal philosophy and a deep respect for the environment, they consider each vine as a living being. Today, the transmission is underway as the founders run the estate alongside their sons, Théo and Paul Merlin. Together, they perpetuate the expertise of this renowned domaine.

The vineyard

This wine comes from the Mâcon-La Roche-Vineuse appellation, and more specifically from the "Les Cras" plot. Situated at around 300 metres of altitude on a gentle south-west-facing slope, the vines flourish on clay-limestone soils dating from the Quaternary. This terroir stands out for its very high concentration of active limestone, giving the wine its distinctive mineral signature. The soil work is meticulous, favouring mechanical or horse-drawn ploughing to preserve biodiversity.

The vintage

The 2022 year stands out as a qualitatively very successful period across the region, offering climatic conditions favourable to the production of wines with fine ageing potential.

Winemaking and aging

To craft this Mâcon La Roche Vineuse "Les Cras" 2022, the grapes are harvested by hand at optimal ripeness and transported in small crates. In the cellar, the whole bunches undergo a long pressing to preserve all the complexity of the aromas. The wine then benefits from ageing in oak barrels to develop its structure.

Grape variety

This wine is made exclusively from Chardonnay.