Louis Jadot Bienvenues Batard Montrachet Grand Cru

Description

Louis Jadot Bienvenues Batard Montrachet Grand Cru is one of the great white Burgundies. At the summit of the slope where the communes of Puligny-Montrachet and Chassagne-Montrachet converge is a cluster of vineyards comprised of five of the six greatest white wine microclimates of Burgundy. All share the name of the greatest among them, Le Montrachet, which like Bâtard-Montrachet, lies partly in Puligny and partly in Chassagne. Bienvenues-Bâtard-Montrachet lies entirely with Puligny-Montrachet, and is the second smallest grand cru of the Montrachet cluster.

Louis Jadot is one of the largest and most famous wine producers and negociants in the Burgundy wine-growing region. The origins of the company date back to 1859 when the business was founded by Louis Henry Denis Jadot. Over time the company has acquired plots of vines is some of the most prestigious vineyards in the region including Beaune Clos des Ursules, Chambertin Clos de Bèze, Savigny Les Beaune and many more. Louis Jadot owns or directly controls 120 ha in the Côte d’Or, including over 90 individual vineyard sites, 84ha in the Beaujolais Crus and 18ha in the Mâconnais primarily in Pouilly Fuissé. Today the business is headed by Pierre-Henry Gagey, son of André Gagey, who was entrusted with the management of Louis Jadot in 1962 by Madame Jadot following the tragic death of her son.

The grapes for Louis Jadot Bienvenues Batard Montrachet Grand Cru come from A squarish parcel, it is located in the lower northeast corner of the Bâtard-Montrachet vineyard, away from the Chassagne border. Legend has it that during the crusades, the son (Le Chevalier) of the Lord of Montrachet Castle left for the Holy Land, and in his absence his father began to frequent the Clos des Pucelles, where the young maidens (Les Demoiselles) of the area often gathered to amuse themselves. Temptation prevailed, and nine months later the old lord was again a father. His son, killed in battle, never returned. The baby was welcomed at the castle as heir with cries of “Bienvenu le Bâtard!” (“Welcome to the Bastard!”), but the old lord, unable to bear his crying, protested with “A crio le Bâtard!” (“The Bastard is crying!”). The vineyards were later named in their memory.

The vineyard has an eastern exposure with chalky soils, heavy at the surface. The Chardonna grapes are harvested by hand and into small cases in order not to damage the fruits. The grapes are then pressed softly and fermented in oak barrels produced by Louis Jadot’s own cooperage. A third of the barrels are new. Aging usually lasts 15 months on fine lies before bottling.