Louis Jadot : Beaune 1er cru "Aux Cras" Famille Gagey 2023

Characteristics and Tasting Notes for the Beaune 1er cru "Aux Cras" Famille Gagey 2023 by Louis Jadot

Tasting

Colour

The wine displays a light ruby hue, enhanced by subtle garnet highlights.

Nose

Vibrant and expressive, the nose offers aromas of raspberry and spice, lifted by hints of rose petals and liquorice. With aeration, nuances of minerals, pepper and tea leaves elegantly emerge.

Palate

Broad and generous, the palate charms with its purity and linear structure. Flavours of sweet cherry and strawberry intertwine with fine, silky tannins. Notes of crisp redcurrant and an underlying chalky minerality carry the palate through to a long finish, punctuated by white pepper and dried orange peel.

Food and Wine Pairing

This red wine pairs beautifully with roast poultry such as duck, partridge or quail. It will also enhance earthy dishes featuring mushrooms or lentils, as well as beef served rare or as a tartare. At the end of the meal, it will be an ideal companion to aged cheeses such as Comté or Époisses.

Serving and Cellaring

For optimal enjoyment, this Beaune 1er cru "Aux Cras" Famille Gagey 2023 is best served at a temperature of 15 to 16°C. Approachable in its youth, this wine has excellent ageing potential and can be cellared for a minimum of 5 to 7 years, or even up to around fifteen years, to reveal its full complexity.

The Elegance and Mineral Precision of a Beaune Premier Cru

The Estate

Founded in 1859 by Louis Henry Denis Jadot, Maison Louis Jadot is a true institution in Burgundy, France. Now headed by Thomas Seiter and owned by the American Kopf family, the house oversees an extensive estate of more than 210 hectares of vines. Renowned for its respect for terroir and its minimal-intervention winemaking, the house stands out for its ability to deliver consistent quality, from entry-level wines to the most prestigious crus.

The Vineyard

The "Aux Cras" climat is ideally located in the heart of the Beaune appellation. Acquired by the family in 2011, this plot is distinguished by its vines, which are around forty years old on average. The terroir, a former limestone quarry, rests on soils combining red clay, silt and gravel, ensuring excellent drainage. Laid out across three terraces, the vineyard benefits from limestone walls that reflect the sun's warmth, promoting optimal ripening of the grapes under a favourable south-easterly exposure.

The Vintage

The 2023 vintage was marked by contrasting weather conditions. After a warm start to the season followed by a more challenging spring, the summer allowed the vines to regain their balance. Late-season rains relieved water stress without increasing yields, which remained low. This singular growing cycle nevertheless produced berries of great ripeness, offering a perfect balance between richness and preserved freshness.

Winemaking and Ageing

The grapes for this Beaune 1er cru "Aux Cras" Famille Gagey 2023 are harvested by hand. After rigorous sorting, the berries are destemmed before undergoing natural fermentation in oak vats, driven exclusively by indigenous yeasts. The wine is then transferred to oak barrels for malolactic fermentation and ageing for around sixteen months. To preserve the purity of the fruit, the proportion of new barrels is carefully controlled. The wine is bottled unfiltered, with minimal fining.

Grape Variety

100% Pinot Noir