Domaine de Suremain, Mercurey 1er Cru Clos l'Èvêque 2016

South across the valley from Maranges, at the southern end of the Côte d’Or, another belt of vines begins. This is the Côte Chalonnaise, home to five appellations named after five communes. The best known of these is the village of Mercurey, named after the messenger of the Gods in Roman mythology. Approximately 95 percent of the vintage here is red wine, unlike its two northerly neighbors, Rully and Bouzeron, which produce a larger amount of white wine. The wines here merit attention not simply because of their quality, but also because of the relative value they offer when compared to the wines made in the Côte d’Or. Situated in the heart of Mercurey at Château de Bourgneuf, Domaine de Suremain is a seventh generation family estate with winemaking roots dating back to 1870. Armed with generations of experience and access to an array of amazing sites, Yves and Marie-Hélène de Suremain craft classic, expressive wines that convey their sites and terroir with artful style.

The Harvest is done by hand. Vinification is carried out individually for each cru in open barrels of 50 to 100 hl with a complete destemming. Punching of the cap is done each morning and evening. The fermentation time is 8 days for the Mercurey, 15 days for the Crus. Aged in oak barrels (10 months 15 % new). Bottling 18 months after the harvest. Alcohol 13%.
 

Wine Enthusiast 92 Points, Oct 2016
Wine Spectator 91 Points, Nov 2016