Lucien Muzard, Burgundy.
Nine generations of Muzards precede Claude and Hervé, who today control Domaine Lucien Muzard across 16 ha of vineyards in Santenay, Chassagne-Montrachet and Pommard. The family can trace its roots back to 1645, but it was not until the two sons took over the domaine in 1995 that it began bottling at the estate rather than selling to négociants. Today 95% of the production is red wine but the white wines are gaining in stature with each passing vintage.
Reducing vine yields and adoption of some modern wine-making techniques has resulted in spotlessly pure, great value Burgundy. They started using small bins for harvesting, a vibrating sorting table and conveyor belts rather than pumps to keep crushing to an absolute minimum as well as acquiring a new temperature controlled fermentation facility with new wooden vats and a new precision controlled press. In 2005 they began managing the vineyard organically and ultimately gained certification for biodynamic farming in 2011. Following the incessant rains of spring 2012 however they relinquished this certification and today follow a lutte raisonée, or sustainable farming path.
Santenay 1er Cru Maladiere 2023
Maladière takes its name from malady, or illness. The hill of Maladière rises steeply up behind the lower village and gets bathed in sunshine, thus long ago this hillside was considered a healthy place to house the leper colony. Maladière has some of the same Côte de Nuits limestone as Faubard, contributing to the minerality that underpins the wine. This is from 4.35 hectares of 35+ year old vines here and the fruit is hand-picked, sorted, 100% destemmed but not crushed and then cold-soaked for a few days. Wild-yeast fermented and gently plunged for 12-15 days, then pressed to 33% new French oak barriques for 12 months maturation.
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