2019 Clos des Vignes du Maynes Bourgogne Rouge Les Crays

WINEMAKER: Julien Guillot
REGION: Burgundy, FR
VARIETAL: Pinot Noir
VITICULTURE: Organic/Biodynamic

"40 year old Pinot Noir vines, from chalky soils in Macon. Elevaged 12 months in barrel then 12 months in foudre. Cherries and spice. Forest floor and rhubarb with great length. Becomes more lithe as it opens and the fruit begins to shine. There’s prettiness here also. Powdery fine tannins. Hidden spice and plumpness. Dark cherries and earthy, with a line of freshness running through it." - Liz Carey

Clos des Vignes du Maynes is part of the Burgundian dynamic of parcel land registration by the monks. Its origins date back to the year 910, when the Abbey of Cluny was founded by the Duke of Aquitaine. Owned by the lords of the castle of Cruzille, the estate belonged to five generations of farmers before being bought in 1952 by Julian’s grandfather Pierre. Despite the post war industrialisation of wine, he chose to make wines in an organic way, without chemicals, sulfur or filtration. Julian’s father Alain continued this path and was president of FNAB (National Federation of Organic Agriculture) in the 1990’s.

When Julian took over the estate in 2001, he was just 27. Passionate about biodynamics, he introduced the first preparations in 1998 before completely transitioning the entire domaine. The estate consists of 7 hectares including the Clos which is made up of 2 hectares. The terroir is a composition of clay with limestone.