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What We Say 2009 Mâcon Cruzille 'Clos Les Avoueries'
EXCLUSIVE WINE ALERT:
Today’s exclusive White Burgundy is truly a wine of great distinction and is also exclusive for today only. We have a very limited allocation of this delicious wine so if you’re a fan of great Chardonnay, be sure to act quickly!
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Mission Codename: The Tiny Hamlet
Operative: Agent White
Objective: Secure a very limited and exclusive allocation of a delicious white Burgundy for our operatives.
Mission Status: Accomplished!
Current Winery: Château de Messey
Wine Subject: 2009 Mâcon Cruzille ‘Clos Les Avoueries’
Backgrounder: Located in the broader Burgundy region of the Mâconnais (about half way between Lyon and Beaune, the tiny hamlet of Mâcon-Cruzille is known for making some of the rarest wines in the region and is located at the far north side of the villages appellation. The region’s wine-making history dates back about 1600 years. It is often grouped with Beaujolais (just south of the region) since its red grape is predominantly Gamay. The whites which make up most of the production (88%) in the region, like the rest of Burgundy, are Chardonnay. Of the wines in the Mâcon-Cruzille, Château de Messey is one of the highest esteemed.
Wine Spies Tasting Profile:
Look – Bright straw yellow with pale golden streaks that shine through its clear heart. Along the edges the color remains constant and when swirled this wine settles quickly and leaves randomly spaced medium legs of varying speeds on the side of the glass.
Smell – Fresh and bright aromas of both tropical and citrus fruit lead you in and are followed by soft toasted and buttery oak, biscuit, a touch of sweet baking spice and floral notes.
Feel – Smooth and rich on the initial attack but is followed by racy acidity and mineral notes. This medium-to-full bodied white is both smooth and persistent, in balance with fresh zesty acidity that lingers long into the finish.
Taste – The tropical and citrus fruit found on the nose greets the palate in balance with the creamy and toasted oak, notes of biscuit, white flowers and baking spice all held together by this wine’s tangy acidity and soft limestone minerality.
Finish – Extremely long and clean with tangy citrus fruit flavors and its bright acidity lingering on, keeping the palate fresh all the while inviting another sip.
Conclusion – The 2009 Château de Messey Mâcon Cruzille ‘Clos Les Avoueries’ is simply delicious; a bright, fresh and complete wine that has great balance between its acidity and smoothness, its fruit and other complex aromas and flavors and a finish that lingers for several minutes. A wonderful wine to pair with avocado salad, creamy fresh or hard aged cheeses or raw seafood. Enjoy this wine right now or cellar for a few years to have its aromas and flavors develop further.
Mission Report:
Agent White has once again been reported as A.W.O.L. as he explores the vineyards of Burgundy. He way last seen just outside Beaune, sipping wines at a cafe and enjoying the local food and culture.
Wine Spies Vineyard Check:
The approximate location of Château de Messey southwest of Toumus can be seen in this satellite photo.
What the Winery Says
Château de Messey
About This Wine:
Light gold with green glints, clear and brilliant. Both fresh and charming on the nose. Firstly with a scent of exotic fruits and white flowers. Moving on, the aroma develops perfectly-presented, intense buttery notes. This is a fruity young wine with real content and roundness acting as balance. The 2009 vintage is wonderful and particularly well-balanced.
Both rich and elegant. An expressive wine. To best appreciate this wine, we advise you to serve it at 13°C.
The wine can be left to further develop for a few months.
Goes well with: Drinking as an aperitif is perfect because it whets the appetite
About The Winery:
Château de Messey, a large estate nestled on a hilltop just 8 kilometers (five miles) from Tournus in the commune of Ozenay is mentioned in IXth Century manuscripts. Its surrounding region grew in importance from the XIth Century, with the widespread construction of abbeys and Romanesque churches, such as those still found in Cluny, Chapaize and Tournus. Among other endeavours, the monks of Cluny and Citeaux, whose intellectual influence over many centuries remains uncontested, cultivated grapes and developed the art of fine wine making.
In 1986, Marc DUMONT bought a vineyard in Cruzille, in Mâconnais, that originally belonged to the monks of the illustrious Abbey of Cluny. A few years later, he met the Demoiselles Jourdan sisters then the owners of Château de Messey, a domain of 89 hectares (220 acres), of which 17 hectares (42 acres) had produced AOC wines until 1958. Marc Dumont purchased this domain to carry on the tradition of many generations in the art of fine wine making. The beautiful XVIth century vaulted cellars assure the best conditions for making high quality wine. To offer as wide a range as possible, Marc DUMONT decided to extend beyond the production of “Clos des Avoueries” by buying grapes or must from quality vineyards across Burgundy. After a few years, in order to reduce the distance from the vines to the cellar to minimize the risk of oxidation, he acquired Manoir Murisaltien, with 1500 m2 (16,000 sq. ft). of beautiful cellars in the heart of Burgundy at Meursault, center of the fabulous white Cote d’Or wines. Thus wines from Mâconnais are made and matured at Château de Messey, while those from Côte de Beaune, Côte de Nuits and Côte Chalonnaise are brought to their full potential at Meursault, in the best tradition of the unique flavour and style of each specific terroir.
Technical Analysis:
Appellation: Mâcon Cruzille AOC
Varietals: 100% Chardonnay
Alcohol: 13%
