France | Burgundy | Domaine Lucien Muzard & Fils | Santenay 1er Cru Clos de Tavannes

Santenay 1er Cru Clos de Tavannes

Varietal
Pinot Noir

Notes
VINEYARD: Clos de Tavannes is a Premier Cru vineyard at the northern end of Santenay, and is widely considered to be the best Premier Cru climat in the village, and its mostly Pinot Noir-based wines are richly flavored with ripe tannins and spicy, fruit-driven flavors.

The vineyard is on the lower slopes of the Cote d'Or, at the border of the Chassagne-Montrachet commune. La Comme covers the hillside above, while the Les Gravieres climat – of which Clos de Tavannes is officially a part of – stretches out toward the south. Wines made from grapes grown in Clos de Tavannes may take the name of either vineyard. The soil here is more marl and clay than in the southern parts of Santenay, with a crumbled layer of gravel covering a limestone base. It drains freely, forcing root systems into the ground in search of nutrients and hydration. This strengthens the vine and increases contact with the minerals in the ground; in fact, the limestone content in the soil is often given credit for stony characters in the wines.

Clos de Tavannes has a very good mesoclimate for viticulture, as its southeasterly aspect provides vines with exposure to the morning sunlight. Shade in the afternoon helps balance this ripening process, ensuring that acidity is retained as the grapes develop rich flavor complexity. As a result, the wines are well-balanced and ageworthy.
The vineyard's relatively small size means that Clos de Tavannes Premier Cru wines are not as plentiful as those from Les Gravieres or La Comme. However, those that are produced are highly regarded and can command some of Santenay's highest prices.

VINIFICATION: The Muzard brothers farm just under one hectare (2.5 acres) and make some 350 cases each year. This wine sees the most new oak during aging, which is to say around 25% new oak.