"87-90 Points - Allen Meadows, Burghound.com
Tasting note: There is a discreet floral hint adding a touch of elegance to the mix of earth red currant and dark raspberry aromas. The attractively textured and delineated medium-bodied flavors are shaped by relatively fine tannins for a Nuits villages, all wrapped in a lingering and solidly complex finish. Drink: 2018+ Tasted: Jan 15, 2015"
Allen Meadows, Burghound.com
I was met this trip by both Pascal Lachaux and his son Charles who has now taken over responsibility for the vinifications. They describe the 2013 vintage as one where "you had to be on your toes viticulturally speaking. If you did that though and allowed for adequate aeration and controlled your yields you didn't have much in the way of rot. We did a late green harvest which we believe accounts for why we had reasonable if generous yields because we had very low sorting losses. There were those who elected to plow their vineyards in late September because the weeds were getting so high and that was a disastrous decision as is liberated massive amounts of humidity into the vines. By contrast we chose to cut the weeds by hand, which is a hell of a lot more labor intensive but no humidity escapes and thus we necessarily had less rot. We chose to begin picking on the 4th of October and brought in ripe and as we noted very clean fruit that required only minimal sorting. While it varies from wine to wine, on average 40% whole clusters were used in the vinifications. We also used a bit less new wood and we will probably continue that policy going forward. The malos were quite long and it is only in the last few months that the real character of the 2013s is becoming apparent as the malic acidity was high. The wines are classic burgundies that will probably appeal most to those who like racier vintages." Pascal Lachaux also noted that in more than 30 years of experience, 2013 was the latest that he has ever picked.
