Country: France
Region: Burgundy (Grand Auxerrois)
Grape: Pinot Noir
Viticulture: Organic Farming / Natural Wine
The vines are around 37 years old and are spread among 8 hectares from 10 different plots facing southeast and southwest. Organically farmed, the grapes were both hand and mechanically picked with an exceptional yield of 54hl/ha.
Dominique’s Bourgogne Épineuil 2021 is 80% destemmed before the fermentation process. The 20% whole bunches add another layer of fruit concentration and structure to the wine. Aged for 10 months in 228L old French oak barrels in a beautiful 800-year-old cellar.
Pale, shiny garnet-ruby colour, in the glass. The aromas on the nose are expressive and straight forward: red and black fruits, violet flowers punctuated with mild sweet spices. The texture is smooth with soft velvety tannins.
Domaine Dominique Gruhier was established in 1990, whilst the winery named Notre Dame de Quincy Abbey has existed since the Cistercian monks started to make wine in 1212. The same way the monks selected the best vines, vineyards and “climats” in the famous areas of Côte d’Or, they did so in the Épineuil and Tonnerre region. The Abbey was bought by the French National Trust in 1792, until 1970 when the Dominique Gruhier family took over the winery. Dominique inherited the Monks’ vineyards and slowly started to plant and buy new vineyards. His domaine now has 31 hectares of vineyards all organically farmed since 2003. The oldest vines were planted in 1946 and its soil is still ploughed by horse today. Dominique is very attentive to the grape’s cycle of life, his philosophy sits between the respect of tradition while being open to what modernity can offer.