2018 Domaine Arnoux-Lachaux Clos Vougeot 'Quartier de Marei Haut' Grand Cru

Notes

Allen Meadows of Burghound writes: "Charles Lachaux describes the 2018 vintage as one that 'had a bit of everything except botrytis and oidium. We had mildew in the spring, hail damage in a few parcels in July and then very dry and hot conditions basically up until the harvest which I chose to begin on the 3rd of September. Yields were definitely on the low side as we basically brought in only 50% of the authorized volumes, which is to say between 25 and 28 hl/ha. Potential alcohols were not particularly high either as the highest was 13.2%. I used 100% whole clusters for everything except the Bourgogne, Poisets and Corvées Pagets which were hit by hail. I vinified softly without sulfur during a moderately short cuvaison of 8 to 10 days. As to the 2018s, they're quite different from the 2017s but attractive in their own right plus we avoided the excess ripeness that some 2018s have. Overall, I am quite happy with the results.' Lachaux should be happy with the results as I found them to be among the best wines of the vintage when considered from top to bottom." (01/2020)