Maranges

History & tradition: Pinot Noir has been planted here for quite a long time, but the appellation Maranges Premier Cru is recent. It is in fact a Premier Cru vineyard covering three villages, Cheilly, Dezize and Champigny.

Soil: clay and limestone.

Pruning: Guyot.

Yield: 47 hl/ha - low on purpose, in order for the grapes to reveal every nuance of the terroir.

Grape Supply: grapes and wines are purchased from regular supply partners (long-term contracts).

Joseph Drouhin seeks total control of the process of extraction; extraction gives colour and substance but should never be detrimental to the finesse and typical character of the wine.

"Pigeage" (punching down of the cap during fermentation): once a day until half of fermentation is done; one pumping over ("remontage") per day till the end of the fermentation.

Pressing: vertical press; separation of free run juice from pressed juice.

Length: 12 to 15 months.

Origin of the wood: French oak forests.

Weathering of the wood: Joseph Drouhin insists on total control of the weathering for a period of 3 years, one of the contributing elements to the elegance of the wine.

Follow-up: barrel by barrel.

Throughout the ageing process, decisions are taken only after careful tasting evaluation, barrel by barrel. The data obtained is then completed through technical analysis. As with every other Joseph Drouhin wine, absolute priority is given to the true expression of terroir and character of the vintage.

Cellaring: 4 to 12 years.