Domaine Faiveley, Mercurey Premier Cru, Clos des Myglands, Monopole 2018 | Burgundy, France

Wine of the Week – November 9, 2020

In Roman mythology, Mercury was the god of trade, financial gain and commerce and he has lent his name to this wine-producing village in the Côte Chalonnaise in Burgundy, France. With around 1,500 acres of vines, Mercurey is the largest vineyard along the Côte Chalonnaise and the second largest village appellation in Burgundy. Mercurey is mainly a red appellation but there is a small amount of Mercurey Blanc made from Chardonnay both on village and premier cru levels.

Mercurey holds quite a few monopoles, vineyard sites belonging to one single domaine or owner. Frequently the word “monopole” is mentioned on the label as it is rare for only one domaine to produce all the wine from a vineyard site entitled to a certain name. There are eight premier cru and six village monopoles in Mercurey. The Nuits-Saint-Georges based Domaine Faiveley owns five of these – the premier cru Clos des Myglands and the village vineyard sites Framboisières, Clos Rond, Les Mauvarennes and Clos Rochette. The word “clos” mentioned in the name of a vineyard site refers to the fact that the vineyard is enclosed by a stone wall.

It was Guy Faiveley who in 1964 decided to expand the vineyard holdings of Domaine Faiveley into the Côte Chalonnaise. The purchase included 144 acres, mainly in Mercurey, and more than doubled the size of his estate in one single stroke. The main reason for this purchase was to be able to offer good value wines from Burgundy since already back then the wines from the Côte de Nuits and the Côte de Beaune were expensive.

Origin: Mercurey, Burgundy, France
Varietals: 100% Pinot Noir
Sustainability: Sustainable practices
Suggested retail price: $53.00
ABV: 13%

The grapes for this wine were harvested and sorted by hand. The must was pumped over twice daily in order to extract color, tannins and aromas from the grape skins. After 15 to 19 days, the fermentation was complete and the wine was run off by gravity whilst the marc was slowly pressed in order to produce high quality press wine. The wine was aged for 15 months in French oak barrels of which 30% is new oak.

The nose offers dark cherries, dried strawberries, spices and a subtle hint of oak. It is medium to full-bodied in the mouth with the same fruity aromas offered in the nose paired with lively acidity and finishing with ripe and elegant tannins. Drink over the next five years.

Suggested food pairings: Boeuf Bourguignon, game, duck, chicken or rabbit with a creamy mustard sauce, rack of lamb with an herb crust, mushrooms, calf liver with onions, strawberry tart, cheeses.

> For more information, visit the Domaine Faiveley official website.