VIRÉ-CLESSÉ > BOUCHARD Ainé & Fils

VIRÉ-CLESSÉ 2021

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2021 2022 2023 2024

Varietal

100% Chardonnay.

Tasting notes

Visual: clear and shiny pale gold.

Nose: very fruity, with citrus and white fleshed fruits notes. It also displays fresh aromas of mint and fern.

Palate: fresh and lively in the mouth, with a round finish. It is a sound and supple wine at the same time.

Food and wine pairing

This wine will be perfect paired up with creamy dishes, such as veal stews, or steamed fishes and even goat cheeses.

Serving suggestions

Ideally serve between 11°C and 13°C [52°F - 55°F]

Ageing potential

Can be enjoyed in its youth for its fruitiness. More complex aromas and flavours such as quince jam will develop with time. It will be able to age for 5 to 8 years.

Origins

A communal appellation created in 1999, producing exclusively whites from nearly 391 hectares. Viré-Clessé is the first Village appellation to be created from outstanding terroirs within the AOC Mâcon-Villages. Viré and Clessé are two communes in southern Burgundy, located between Tournus and Mâcon.

The cru is made up of two north-south slopes, bounded by the Bourbonne and Mouge valleys. They are made up of Bajocian limestone with entrochs and Oxfordian (Jurassic) marl-limestone strata. Other land at the bottom of the slopes is made up of "chailles" clay (sandstone pebbles), facing east and well drained.

- Steep slopes,
- East, south-east exposure,
- Altitude 200 m to 400 m.

Vinification and maturing

The grapes are gently pressed to extract the highest quality juice possible. The resulting must is placed in a temperature-controlled vat for settling (12 to 24 hours). This settling operation is crucial in our quest for aromatic purity. The must is then racked and placed in temperature-controlled stainless steel vats (16-18°C) for alcoholic fermentation. Ageing in stainless steel vats on lees (80%) and in oak barrels (20%) for 8 to 10 months.

Vintage : 2021

The 2021 vintage was a challenge for winegrowers right up until the very last day. From the frost in April, made worse by a very early start to the winegrowing season, right through to the September harvest, it was characterized by some brutal shifts in the weather. Winegrowers had to be extremely reactive and attentive. The only moment of respite came with flowering, which was ideal for fruit formation, and véraison, which was accompanied by sunshine from mid-August. In the end, hard work was rewarded with success, low volumes aside.

Aside from the low yields due to frost, and hail in June in certain parts of the Mâconnais, the grapes were sorted meticulously, both in the vines and in the winery.

Anyway, 2021 is an interesting vintage to work as it requires great technical skill and vinification must be very precise. Although fermentation was rapid, one had to pay a great deal of attention to the extraction of tannins and color for the reds, and to the aromatic balance of the whites. The impression from the first tastings is that the musts have good aromatic potential and the sugar-acidity ratio suggests a style appreciated by fans of Bourgogne wines.