Pommard 1er Cru "Les Croix Noires" - 2018 - Lucien Boillot

Pinot Noir from old vines planted on a deep, rich soil of brown limestone. This is a very small parcel since the Climat of Les Croix Noires only represents 1,28 hectare of vines in total. The grapes are harvested at full maturity, 100% destemmed, followed by prefermentary maceration of 3 days, alcoholic fermentation for 15 days thanks to indigenous yeasts, one or two cap punch-downs a day, and finally maturation in oak barrels for 16 months with 15% new oak. The wines are neither filtered nor fined.
Lucien Boillot... One of Burgundy’s greatest names, though many wine lovers in France have never heard of him, since 85% of his bottles are exported! Yet it’s certainly a name to remember… Lucien Boillot represents the sixth generation of a viticultural family, originally from Volnay. It was in 1950 that the vigneron decided to settle in the middle of Gevrey-Chambertin, where he begin acquiring vines, including many on prestigious Premier Cru terroirs. The estate would really take off in the 1980s with the acquisition of parcels spread across the greater part of the appellations of the Côte de Beaune, thanks for the most part to donations from his father. Ever since, the Boillot name has stood for exceptional terroirs and exceptional wines, from both of the famous côtes, and from the most legendary climats ­­– Pommard, Puligny-Montrachet, Nuits Saint Georges... Today, Pierre Boillot has succeeded his father Lucien at the head of this great estate, carrying forth Lucien’s dictum that “a great wine is something liberated”. An estate to (re)discover and above all to keep close eye on, because as you’ve doubtless surmised – their cuvées are rare indeed!