The vine

• Plot /climat

  Sous Frétille

• History

  Derived from old French "freste" for the summit or crest of a hill, Sous Frétille is situated at the foot of the mount Frétille the top of which is at 385 meters; on account of the high quality of this land, the appellation was classified in 2001 as premier cru.

• Soil

  At the top of the steep slope for which the gradient is 10 / 15%, the earth is thin and consists mainly of limestone and marl.

• Our plot(s)

  66 ares in size, at an altitude of between 310 and 350 meters and planted in 1986, 1996, 2000 and 2003; this slope of the mount Frétille faces south and the high degree of sunlight is compensated by the altitude.

• Age of vines

  • Planting date Surface
  • 1986 8.06a
  • 1996 22.05a
  • 1996 7.72a
  • 2000 6.37a
  • 2003 6.05a
  • 2003 10.01a
  • 2003 6.37a

The wine

• Description

  100% Chardonnay from handpicked grapes; vinified and raised in oak casks.

• Taste

  Pale in colour and with fine citrus aromas and a slight vanilla touch ; in the mouth it combines the freshness of the fruit with the characteristic mineral effect of the land, smoothness and good length.

• Serving temperature

  12/14°C. Recent vintages may be decanted to enhance the aroma

The vintage

• The mild Winter meant that vegetation growth started early; we began debudding mid-April and with fine sunny weather the vine developed and flourished gradually in good conditions. The Summer was very dry which accelerated the maturing process with a lower yield but a high aromatic concentration for the Pinot Noir grape; for the Chardonnay however, the conditions were satisfactory for both growth and maturity. The grape harvest commenced on 20 August. The white wines follow the true burgundy tradition with good intensity and citrus notes, fresh and mineral in the mouth