(2018) Blended from 35% old vines Pinot Noir from Mareuil-sur-Aÿ (parcels: Faubourg D'enfer, Croix Blanche, Pruche), 20% Pinot Noir from Aÿ (parcels: Cheuzelles, Pierre Robert, Le Leon), 25% old vines Chardonnay from Mareuil-sur-Aÿ. (parcels: Beauregard, Ramonette, Buisson Saint Loup) and 20% Chardonnay from Oiry and Chouilly. Fermented in stainless steel from the coeur de cuvée, with a dosage of 6.5 g/l. The 2012 has certainly moved on in the last 12 months, the nose retaining plenty of dense fruit, the palate has also gained weight. An attractive peachiness is now in emergence but it is a baby, best drunk 2022-2028 when it has the potential to score 94/100.
(2018) What a silky and beautiful wine from winemaker Hugh Crichton, who tells me he makes this vineyard and barrel selection top Syrah "like a Pinot Noir." Eighteen months in French oak just gives a dense, plum and cocoa depth to the beautifully pert and aromatic black cherry fruit, but there is a little sprinkle of white pepper adding some lift. On the palate the silkiness continues, as does the fat, ripe, black cherry oozing juiciness and cherry skin acid tartness, the oak adding a fine base of balsamic richness into the long finish.
(2017) Hugh describes this wine as coming from "In effect, our grand cru vineyards," the fruit from three distinct Legacy vineyards pressed straight to French oak barrel, a small proportion new, where it spends 10 months. The barrels are then blind tasted to ensure Legacy quality. In this year 16 barriques made it as Legacy, though some years as few as 12 qualify. It is made with natural yeasts, and is not inoculated for malolactic. Fine complex sulphide flintiness, the oak toasty, and the clean, apple fruit and the flint and salt minerality. The palate has a fine juiciness, lots of crunchy apple and citrus, this is really fine, the acid so crunchy and mineral salty, great length and vibrant, punchy and vivacious
