• Jean-Noël Gagnard

    • Hautes-Côtes de Beaune Blanc Sous Éguisons

    At a Glance

    • Size: 0.41 ha (1.02 ac)
    • Variety: Chardonnay
    • Vine Age: Planted in 2002, 2004, and 2005
    • Terroir: From La Rochepot, on the western border of Saint Aubin, medium-gradient slope, southeast-facing, 430-450m altitude, underneath a cliff which provides protection from the northern winds. Limestone soil with colluvial deposits from the cliff.
    • Viticulture: Organic (Ecocert, 2014), biodynamic methods. Guyot-Poussard pruning.
    • Vinification: Sorted, pressed and settled for 24-48 hours. Ambient yeast primary and malolactic fermentation in used barrels at 18°C. Racked to the cellar underground to age 12-15 months on the lees in barrels (33% new). Fined with casein and lightly filtered when necessary. Bottled with screwcaps.

    Additional Info

    Even if the vineyards of the Hautes-Côtes de Beaune are 80% Pinot Noir, it's the Chardonnay variety that is predominant in the best communes of the appellation: Nantoux, Echevronne, Meloisey and La Rochepot.

    This parcel is in La Rochepot, on an embankment overlooking and bordering the western part of the Saint-Aubin appellation Le Ban. The name "Sous Éguisons" refers to the cliff above the vineyard. The cliff offers protection from the north winds, which is a significant advantage given how harsh the climate is and how bitter the spring frosts are at this altitude. The natural growth cycle of the vines is also slower and the grapes mature a full week later than at lower levels. These vines are planted at a density of 10,000 vines per hectare.