Louis Jadot - Mercurey 1er cru Grand Clos Fortoul 2021

Bettane & Desseauve

About the domain :

The Gagey family's involvement with this historic Burgundy landmark came with the death of Louis-Auguste Jadot. With no heir, the estate was entrusted in 1962 to André Gagey, who remained steward until 1991, when he handed over the reins to his son Pierre-Henry, now at the helm of the 225-hectare vineyard. Since 2011, Frédéric Barnier, who took over from Jacques Lardière, has been in charge of vinification, further improving the consistency and homogeneity of all batches. White wines are pneumatically pressed and fermented directly in barrels, where they are aged on lees with periodic stirring of the lees for 12 to 20 months. The red wines are vinified de-stemmed, unpressed, without cold pre-fermentation, and undergo a 25 to 27-day cuvaison before maturing for 12 to 22 months in barrels, a third of which are new. The 2017s were born harmonious and balanced, with the reds more complete in Côte de Nuits and the whites on average even more attractive than the reds.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France

About the domain :

This prestigious trading house is run with great efficiency by Pierre-Henry Gagey, who is deeply involved in Burgundy. The house boasts an extensive range of wines and a fine collection of terroirs, including the main Burgundy appellations. Frédéric Barnier, in charge of vinification since 2012, is gradually imposing his mark by purifying the wines. Consistency is one of the house's strong points. While the whites are well-balanced, the reds are strict and severe, with wood overpowering the fruit and even hints of acetate, which, this year, disturbed the reading of certain cuvées. Let's hope this is temporary, as the star is under threat.

James Suckling