Au Pied du Mont Chauve : Saint-Aubin 1er cru "Les Frionnes" 2023

Characteristics and tasting notes of the Saint-Aubin 1er Cru "Les Frionnes" 2023 Au Pied du Mont Chauve

Tasting

Colour
With its brilliant, deep ruby red hue, this wine captivates the eye from the very first glance.

Nose
The aromatic bouquet seduces with its beautiful complexity, releasing fragrances of fresh red fruit such as raspberry and cherry. Subtle spicy and floral notes intertwine with a minerality characteristic of limestone terroirs.

Palate
The attack is lively and imbued with freshness, opening onto a perfectly balanced palate with a silky texture. Wonderfully fine tannins and well-integrated acidity support fruity, spicy aromas, enriched with hints of liquorice and undergrowth. The finish offers a long and particularly harmonious persistence.

Food and wine pairing

This red wine pairs beautifully with roasted red meats, grilled poultry or hearty stews such as beef bourguignon or a foie gras pie. It will also do wonders alongside a platter of matured cheeses.

Service and storage

To fully appreciate this vintage, it is recommended to serve it at a temperature between 16 and 18°C. Allowing it to breathe for at least an hour, or even a light decanting while it is young, will help it release all its aromas. This wine can be enjoyed now but will continue to evolve favourably for several more years.

The elegance and precision of a Côte de Beaune wine

The estate

The Picard family's winemaking history in Burgundy began in 1951, but it was in 2011 that Francine Picard, the current owner, officially created the Au Pied du Mont Chauve brand. Located at the heart of the prestigious Côte de Beaune, the estate spans 35 hectares dedicated to this label, within an overall family vineyard of 140 hectares. Guided by a strong environmental philosophy and a quest for excellence, Francine Picard has led a major restructuring to produce haute couture, certified organic wines that reflect the richness of their terroirs with precision and elegance.

The vineyard

The "Les Frionnes" climat, located in the commune of Saint-Aubin, benefits from an eastern exposure that preserves a lovely morning freshness. Here, the estate cultivates a small half-hectare plot, perched at an altitude ranging between 300 and 430 metres. The vines, some of which are over forty years old, thrive on clay-limestone soils rich in marl. The entire vineyard is farmed according to biodynamic principles and holds organic certification, thereby fostering biodiversity and microbial life in the soils.

The vintage

The year 2023 follows in the footsteps of the region's particularly sun-drenched vintages. These mild, luminous weather conditions were ideally suited to this typically late-ripening terroir, granting the berries optimal maturity along with added depth and density.

Winemaking and aging

Following an entirely hand-harvested grape selection allowing for rigorous sorting, vinification takes place in stainless steel tanks. A proportion of twenty to fifty percent whole clusters is retained. Extraction is kept light and delicate. The wine is then aged for fifteen months in traditional Burgundy barrels, including between ten and thirty percent new oak barrels.

Grape variety

Pinot Noir (100%).