Méo-Camuzet : Echezeaux Grand cru "Les Rouges du Bas" Domaine 2023

Characteristics and Tasting Notes for the Echezeaux Grand Cru "Les Rouges du Bas" 2023 Domaine Méo-Camuzet

Tasting

Colour
The colour reveals a beautiful red hue, with shades evolving from ruby toward darker magenta and purple highlights.

Nose
With a striking freshness linked to its high-altitude terroir, the bouquet expresses aromas of fresh rose, violet and crisp cherry. It is enriched with spicy, animal, undergrowth and prune notes, subtly underlined by delicate oak.

Palate
The attack is refined and harmonious. This wine unfolds a dense texture with supple tannins, supported by a pronounced acidity that gives it a solid structure. This vintage stands out for its generous fruit, its richness and its immediate charm.

Food and Wine Pairing

This Echezeaux pairs wonderfully with full-bodied red meats and structured game. It will ideally accompany roast lamb, rib of beef, braised meats in sauce, or washed-rind raw-milk cheeses.

Service and Storage

To reveal its full complexity, it is recommended to serve the Echezeaux Grand Cru "Les Rouges du Bas" 2023 at a temperature of between 15 and 16°C. With great potential for aging, it can be laid down in the cellar to be enjoyed from around 2028-2029, and will continue to develop for a further five to ten years.

The Freshness and Depth of a Great Wine from the Echezeaux Appellation

The Estate

Established in Vosne-Romanée in the heart of Burgundy in France, Domaine Méo-Camuzet traces its winegrowing origins back to the seventeenth century, although its current name was only officially adopted in 1981. Founded in its modern form by Étienne Camuzet, a major political and winegrowing figure, the estate has risen to the very top of world viticulture. Today, Jean-Nicolas Méo runs this prestigious estate. He carries on a philosophy respectful of the terroir, inspired by his mentor Henri Jayer, favouring the expression of the fruit and the natural balance of the vines.

The Vineyard

The 0.44-hectare plot giving rise to this wine is located in the upper part of the Echezeaux appellation. This elevated position, combined with an east/southeast orientation, favours the rapid ripening of small, concentrated berries. The soils, richer at the base, become lighter and more free-draining further up the slope. Planted in the late 1940s and partially replanted in the early 2000s, the vines are cultivated using uncertified organic methods, including regular ploughing and meticulous pruning.

The Vintage

The year began with a mild winter followed by a rainy spring. From the end of May, summery conditions triggered a rapid flowering in early June. The summer was warm but punctuated by regular storms, thereby avoiding water stress. Faced with an exceptional grape yield, rigorous green harvesting was necessary in July. An unprecedented heatwave after mid-August, followed by a cloudy spell and then a second peak of extreme heat in early September, considerably accelerated ripening, requiring a swift harvest in early September.

Winemaking and Aging

The grapes destined for the Echezeaux Grand Cru "Les Rouges du Bas" 2023 underwent a slightly shortened cold maceration this year, followed by fermentation in concrete vats with indigenous yeasts. Temperatures are strictly controlled for gentle extraction, with light punching down towards the end of the cycle. The wine is then aged for fifteen to eighteen months in French oak barrels from the Bertranges forest, with a high proportion of new oak. Bottling is carried out by gravity, without any fining or filtration.

Grape Variety

100% Pinot Noir