2018 Domaine Levert-Barault Mercurey L'Automne Rouge

France / Burgundy / Cote Chalonnaise / Mercurey Rouge

Domaine Levert-Barault Mercurey L'Automne Rouge (owned by Domaines Famille Picard).

Wine Enthusiast tasting note 89/100: "A cinnamon-scented hint of toasty oak plays on the nose of this wine and also envelops ripe cherry fruit on the palate. The body is fresh, smooth and aromatic with baking spice. Slight pepperiness flashes to create more interest on this approachable, fresh but mellow wine".

Mercurey is a village in the Côte Chalonnaise sub-region of Burgundy. It is one of the five communal titles of the Chalonnaise and produces predominantly red wines from the Pinot Noir grape variety.

This wine is a blend of two areas in Mercurey, whose characteristics are quite different. The grapes for the Automne cuvée mainly come from Les Vaux plot, whose vines are quite old and with perfect exposure. The grapes obtained are dense and fleshy, to obtain a deep and gourmet cuvée. The blend is made with a small portion from the plot Les Montelons which is located on the Mercurey plateau, opposite Rully. Rather high altitude, cool temperatures, clay soils. Crisp, fresher grapes. The Le Printemps cuvée is in reverse proportion.
 
50% aged in stainless steel vats and 50% aged for 14 months in old oak barrels. 

There is a rumour circling the village: Levert-Barault is one of the oldest wine-growing estates in Mercurey. In fact, its establishment by the Levert family dates back to the 16th century with records of their appearance still remaining in the centre of Mercurey old town. This exceptional 9.5 hectare vineyard, whose iconic blocks are called Les Combins, Champs Martin and Clos des Barrault, was acquired by the Picard family in 1997. The estate team is responsible for crafting these untouched gems into unusual and precise wines. Levert-Barault's identity is formed by the five "climats" in Mercurey's Premiers Crus, organic viticulture, and respect for the vineyard plot from vinification to bottling. Travel Mercurey's secret terroirs on a tasting journey of the estate's authentic vintages.