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MERCUREY

2020 Blanc 1er Cru Les Veleys Domaine François Raquillet

EN PRIMEUR
ChardonnayWhiteFrance,BurgundyPractising OrganicCôte ChalonnaiseMercurey1er Cru 14%Les Veleys

For this Francois just uses the smaller 400 litre barrels for 12 months. His white parcel comes from the top of the Veleys vineyard, where as his Pinot is from lower down the slope. This has great intensity. Nice crisp yellow fruit, some ginger. Good, crisp acidity adds real drive but gently softens on the finish to sleek polished fruit. Good feel and weight is well balanced in 2020. L&S (Dec 2021)

* This is a pre-shipment/primeur offer. All orders are accepted under the TERMS of this offer which differ from the terms of the rest of the site.

The wood is no longer subtle though neither is it invasive on the more floral-inflected nose of mostly apple and pear compote. The texture is at once sleek but suave with plenty of sappy dry extract buffering the impressively complex and persistent finish where the wood telegraphed by the nose resurfaces. Stylistically this is a bit oaky at present but the quality is evident. Drinking range: 2023 - 2020 Rating: 91 Allen Meadows, www.Burghound.com (Jan 2023)

François took over the running of this estate from his father, Jean, in 1990, with his wife Emmanuelle. Records show that the same family have made wine in Mercurey since the 1600s, and Francois is the eleventh generation.

With eleven hectares under vine, François has substantially reduced yields, introduced higher quality oak barrels (up to 50% new wood for the Premiers Crus) and significantly increased the quality of wines made at this domaine. François explains he tries to avoid over-extraction at all costs - his one aim is to deliver the beautifully pure fruit profile he gets out of the old vines - this he does with great success. It is a wonderfully transparent style - combined with good mid-palate weight.

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