2022 Mercurey Rouge 1er Cru Les Trois Louves, Domaine Patrick Guillot

A plot within Clos des Montaigu was planted in 2001 with the little-seen Pinot Noir Clone No. 943. This produces bunches where the grapes hang loose around their stems, giving a wine of exceptional fruit, and the silkiest of tannins. Only 3 barrels were made that year, fermented in a tiny tank, with Guillot’s wife and their two daughters all helping – sometimes climbing inside the vat to tread the grapes. Chamirey is a tiny hamlet, whose inhabitants were known as stay-at-homes. They never ventured far afield, like wolves in their dens, whence their nick-name: “Les Loups de Chamirey.” In naming this special cuvée Les Trois Louves, Patrick Guillot pays tribute to the 3 she-wolves in his family, without whom this sumptuous wine could not have seen the light of day. Once again, just 3 barrels have been made in 2022, two being new, one having held a previous vintage. The wine is very deep in colour, aromas being ripe, fresh and open. Palate is densely built, with splendid fruit concentration, mouthcoatingly gentle tannins and lovely length (for drinking 2025-2032+).