Mercurey Rouge (2021) Faiveley

Producer Information

A love of wine has been passed on from one Faiveley generation to the next for more than 180 years. The Domaine has always remained in the same family and today Erwan and Eve, the 7th generation of the Faiveley family, are at the helm and are keen to respect the traditions and savoir-faire of the family while looking to the future.

Domaine Faiveley believes that the quality of the wines comes from the fruit. To make sure they are able to get the best fruit and resulting wines, the team has invested in separate winemaking and viticulture teams in the Côte d’Or and Côte Chalonnaise, fine-tuned their barrel selection, and built a state-of-the-art winery in Mercurey. Last year, the family completed the renovation of their cellars in the heart of Nuits-St-Georges.

The result is classic Burgundies with wonderful longevity, aromatics and an unique, elegant style. Recognised as one of the finest producers in Burgundy, the Domaine continues to go from strength to strength under Erwan and Eve.

Vineyards

This Côte Chalonnaise village gets its name from the God Mercury (God of Merchants). The story goes that a temple was erected here in honour of this deity. A Roman road called ‘la voie Agrippa’ (Agrippa’s Road) crosses through Mercurey, which in Roman times, linked Chalon-sur-Saône to Autun. Today, Mercurey numbers 1,400 inhabitants and is known throughout the world for the reputation of its wines. It is the largest wine-growing community in Burgundy with over 600 hectares of vines.

Total Surface Area: 655ha
Soil: Clay/Limestone

Domaine Faiveley surface area: 27ha 25a
Years the vines were planted: 1962, 1978, 1981

Winemaking

The grapes are cut harvested and sorted by hand. The proportion of de-stemmed grapes and whole clusters varies depending on the vintage. The wines are pumped over twice daily in order to extract colour, tannins and aromas from the skin of the grapes. After a 15 to 19 day vatting period, the alcoholic fermentation is complete. The free-run wine is run off using a gravity system whilst the marc is pressed slowly and gently in order to extract an exceptionally pure press wine. The wines are aged for 12 months in French oak barrels (10% of which are new oak) which have been selected for their fine grain and moderate toast. The wines are left to age in our hygrometry-controlled cellars at consistent, natural temperatures.

Vintage Information

2020 is a warmer vintage yet the wines show a lot of freshness and no flavours of over-ripeness. The winter was unusually warm with very little rainfall. Heavy frosts happened during spring, although a very low level of humidity helped to protect the vines. After a 2nd cold period mid-May, summer was extremely dry aside from a few isolated storms (Nuits-Saint-Georges – Vougeot). The harvest started on August 19th, a historically early date and came to an end on September 1st.

Tasting Note

Domaine Faiveley’s “vieilles vignes” (old vines) are over thirty years old and produce an exceptionally aromatic wine that offers a true reflection of its Mercurey terroirs.

Deep ruby red in colour with notes of fresh red fruits and spice on the nose. This wine is a pleasure to drink thanks to its smooth, fruity attack and delicate, silky tannins. This well-balanced and intensely aromatic wine will win over wine experts and amateurs alike.

Food Pairing

Rib of beef marinaded in thyme, a platter of cold cuts, soft cheeses such as reblochon.

Serving Suggestion

Serve between 14º-16ºC

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