It is in the rare Burgundy Grand Cru vineyards of the Côte de Nuits, an area renowned for the greatest Pinot Noir vintages, that Ludivine Griveau, winemaker of the Domaine des Hospices de Beaune, has scrupulously selected the best vines within the climat Corton Renardes.
For this 2021 edition, the Hospices de Beaune present a unique cuvée fully aged in a barrel specially crafted by master tonnelier François Frères (Saint-Romain, Côte d’Or).
To mark the 161st Hospices de Beaune auction, La Pièce des Présidents has been produced by the François Frères cooperage in Saint-Romain. It is an exceptional barrel made from Burgundy oak from the Cîteaux national forest near the prestigious abbey of the same name. The barrel is used for all vinification processes, including maceration and alcoholic and malolactic fermentations. Carrying out alcoholic fermentation in a wooden vessel means that the tannins from the wood are integrated into the wine more effectively.
After leaving the staves to dry naturally in the open air for more than three years, those with the finest grain are sorted using a new technology developed at the request of the François Frères cooperage in association with a local company.
The level of toast must meet the expectations of each house and estate, whether they are looking for discreet grilled notes or more specific aromas. Extra Long toasts are the signature of the François Frères cooperage and are available in Light, Medium, Medium Plus and Heavy intensities.
These toasts retain the wine’s fruitiness and minerality on the palate but tend to reduce the toasted aromas. For the 2021 vintage, Ludivine Griveau Gemma opted for a Medium Plus Extra Long (MX+) toast for the Pièce des Présidents.
VISION by François Frères, a unique barrel
The head of the VISION barrel has a transparent surface.This unique feature means that the grapes can be seen fermenting and the wine ageing.The front hatch is used to fill and empty the barrel.
Characteristics:
Capacity: 228 litres
This is the usual volume for a Burgundy barrel (also known as a pièce).
Wood origin: Burgundy oak trees from the Cîteaux national forest, managed by the Ofice national des forêts and Site Natura 2000, a special protection zones for wild birds (ZPS).
Grain selection (tree growth rings): the quality of the grain was chosen using a new and very precise selection technology developed for the François Frères cooperage based on optical growth ring readings.
Traditional Burgundy strapping: eight hoops in chestnut wood and six hoops in prepainted galvanised iron.
Head and front hatch: the head is made up of pieces of oak wood and a 316 stainless steel hatch for filling and emptying the barrels after alcoholic fermentation.
Food grade polycarbonate glass: the head is also set with a central window in food grade polycarbonate. As well as looking elegant, the transparent surface shows the berries during the fermentation phase and allows winemakers to monitor colour intensity.
Barrel fermentation: this technique makes it possible to obtain wines that are fuller, rounder, more complex and more aromatically precise, with better integrated oak and a smooth finish.
As well as integrating the wood earlier in the process, barrels allow winemakers to vinify lower volumes of wine; they offer a milder extraction method and the marc can be almost permanent immersed during alcoholic fermentation.The lees and berries are placed in suspension to extract fine tannins.
Given the character of the 2021 vintage, the Domaine des Hospices de Beaune chose the VISION cask with a longer toast and stronger intensity. Combined, these two characteristics will underscore the finesse of the vintage and consolidate the density and softness of the tannins.
Special Thanks to:
Vins de Bourgogne Press Team
Estelle Bidault, Juliette Mezzavlla
Sotheby's Press Team :
Sophie Dufresne, Claire Jehl
Photo Credit:@MJoly.photograph
