Mercurey Les Murgers 2020 – Gouffier

The Mercurey Les Murgers Gouffier hand-picked fruit was vinified with 30% whole bunches, enhancing the fruit and aromatics, while adding freshness and structure. The Mercurey Les Murgers Gouffier  was aged for 12 months in French oak barrels of 228 litres, one third were new barrels which imparted structure and length, while rounding out the tannins.

Mercurey is an appellation in the Côte Chalonnaise, where the red wines are characterised by their deep colour and fuller body compared to their neighbouring appellations. The ‘lieu dit’ or named vineyard of ‘Les Murgers’ is situated on rocky soils; its Burgundian name of ‘Meurger’ comes from the heaps of stones that were removed from the plot to enable vine planting. The east-facing Gouffier plot covers 1.2 hectares with loamy topsoil, deeper layers of clay with the rocky component offering the vine good drainage. The vineyard is cultivated using organic preparations, with ploughing, pruning, desuckering and leaf thinning to maintain the high quality of the fruit. The vines are pruned according to the ‘Guyot Poussard’ method, which respects the sap-flow of the vine, reducing the serious consequences of pruning cuts and optimises the vine’s health.

Gouffier owns five and a half hectares of vineyard in the villages of Fontaines and Mercurey in Côte Chalonnaise. Historically it was run by the Gouffier family for generations until Jerome Gouffier handed over the reins to his close friend Frédéric Gueugneau, formerly at La Chablisienne. Since 2011, Frédéric and oenologist Benoît Pagot has brought about a new style of winemaking. They follow an organic philosophy to create wines that are modern and approachable, but with all the style and panache of good Burgundy. They have created a collection of wines of outstanding originality, verve and spirit.