Bourgogne Côtes d'Auxerre Château de Béru 2018 (Red)

The Béru vineyard, nestled in the heart of the Chablis region, traces its roots back to the 13th century. The estate includes prestigious parcels in the Chablis and Chablis Premier Cru appellations, including the splendid Clos Béru. Bounded by ancient walls and spanning five hectares, this exceptional plot, solely dedicated to the cultivation of Chardonnay grapes, flourishes in a unique terroir characterised by clay-limestone soil and fossilised oyster shells. Positioned on the southern slope of a hill at an altitude of 300 metres, it benefits from an incredible microclimate. 2005 marked a pivotal moment for Athénais de Béru, previously working in finance, as she made the life-changing decision to embrace her family’s heritage and chose to reclaim her ancestors’ land. Through a fortuitous coincidence or perhaps a twist of fate, the vineyard became available as the tenant who had leased her father’s land retired prematurely, 20 years ahead of schedule, enabling her to take over the property. When she arrived in Chablis, Athénais, fuelled by her passion for fine wines, found herself a complete novice in terms of technical expertise. As a Parisian who had never worked the land, she faced a daunting challenge. Yet, undeterred and armed with insatiable curiosity, she embarked on a journey of experimentation, trial and error, adaptation, and learning from fellow winemakers. She sought guidance from others, undertook internships at different estates. Eventually, through perseverance and guided by both the wisdom of others and her own instincts, she eventually achieved her goals. Well aware of the exceptional terroir she has the privilege to own, Athénais endeavours to elevate its character while preserving its natural expression. To accomplish this, the estate operates without the use of additives. The vines are trained and pruned using the double Guyot method, encouraging natural competition between plants, limiting yields while promoting an ideal distribution of leaf coverage. The vines are meticulously hand-harvested, ensuring the utmost respect for the berries. In the winery, the winemaker uses native yeasts, allowing the grapes to express their singularity, without resorting to any fining or filtration techniques. Sulphur is sparingly used, if at all. To her, the sulphur-free final product represents the rewarding result of diligent work in the vineyard, although she maintains the freedom to intervene in the winemaking process when necessary.

Pour compléter la gamme de Chablis née du vignoble du Château de Béru, Athénaïs de Béru propose quelques cuvées de négoce, dont ce bourgogne-côtes-d’auxerre. Les pinots noirs qui le ocmposent sont plantés entre 210 et 250 mètres d’altitude, sur des sols argilo-calcaires du Kimméridgien, autour de la commune de Saint-Bris. Les parcelles bénéficient d’exposition variées, à l’est, au sud et au sud-ouest. Les baies vendangées à la main sont encuvées en grappes entières en cuves bois tronconiques. Les fermentations s’y déroulent grâce à l’action des levures indigènes, ponctuées de remontages et de pigeages légers, pour une extraction tout en douceur. La macération s’étend sur deux ou trois semaines. L’élevage se poursuit en pièces bourguignonnes pendant douze à dix-huit mois.
Peu connus, les côtes-d’auxerre révèlent tout leur potentiel dans cette cuvée au nez de fruits rouges et d’épices, à la bouche fraîche, d’une belle matière, d’une longueur enviable. Une vraie réussite.

Consult price estimate for: Château de Béru