2014 Echézeaux Grand Cru

The Nuits-Saint-Georges-based Domaine du Clos Frantin, one of several estates belonging to Albert Bichot, owns 32 hectares of vineyards, of which 20 are grand cru. In fact, five of their eight bottlings are grand crus and a sixth is their flagship 1. 6-hectare holding of Vosne-Romanée Les Malconsorts (Clos Frantin is the largest owner of this premier cru). Estate manager Christophe Chauvel compared the wet spring of 2014 to that of 2011 but noted that after the difficult summer, the harvest began later than they originally thought, with the fruit coming in between September 15 and 22 with very little rot. “There was more difference in tannic ripeness among our Côte de Nuits vineyards in 2014 than there was in 2013, depending on soil type,” he noted.

Clos Frantin vinified only its smaller grand crus with 20% to 30% whole clusters but Alberic Bichot pointed out that the grapes are never crushed. The estate carries out a cold maceration using carbonic ice, and the cuvaison lasts about three weeks, with the temperature of the fermentation only reaching 28 degrees C. As the yields were not high in 2014, said Bichot, little chaptalization was necessary. Bichot added that the toast influence was more important than the percentage of new oak; he uses five barrel suppliers and mostly medium toast.