At A Glance
- Item
- Detail
- Region
- Bourgogne, Côte Chalonnaise
- Appellation
- Mercurey
- Main grapes
- Pinot Noir and Chardonnay
- Red wines
- Château de Chamirey Mercurey Rouge; Château de Chamirey Mercurey Premier Cru Clos du Roi
- White wines
- Château de Chamirey Mercurey Blanc; Château de Chamirey Mercurey Premier Cru La Mission Monopole
The Producer
The château stands on a rocky headland overlooking Chamirey village, in an early 18th century building shaped by Italian architectural influence. Château de Chamirey has 37 hectares of vineyard holdings, with 27 hectares planted to Pinot Noir and 10 hectares to Chardonnay. The vines are planted at 10,000 vines per hectare, a high density compared with other wine regions.
Its bottles cover red and white Mercurey, then narrow to Premier Cru names. In Burgundy, Premier Cru marks a classified vineyard tier within a village appellation. The red Clos du Roi and white La Mission Monopole carry that vineyard designation on their labels.
Place
Mercurey is the village appellation named on the estate's red and white wines, within the Côte Chalonnaise. The labels keep the geographic sequence visible: Mercurey Rouge and Mercurey Blanc use the village name, while Clos du Roi and La Mission Monopole add named Premier Cru vineyards.
A monopole is a vineyard controlled by one domaine, so La Mission Monopole signals sole control of that named site.
Wines
The bottles divide first by color, then by vineyard status. Mercurey Rouge 2023 and Mercurey Blanc 2020 carry the village appellation. Mercurey Premier Cru Clos du Roi 2021 and Mercurey Premier Cru La Mission Monopole 2023 carry named Premier Cru designations.
Mercurey Rouge 2023 can be kept for approximately 10 years. Mercurey Premier Cru Clos du Roi 2021 can be consumed now or kept between 10 and 15 years, placing the red range across village drinking and longer cellar ageing.
In The Glass
Mercurey Premier Cru Clos du Roi 2021 has a brilliant garnet red color. Cherry and Morello cherry lead the nose, followed by clove and pepper. The palate has great intensity balanced by freshness. The finish is long, with a salty touch.
A Bottle To Understand It
Choose Mercurey Rouge 2023. It is the village red with approximately 10 years of cellar potential. The bottle carries the Mercurey name without a Premier Cru vineyard name, leaving Clos du Roi as the next red step in the range.
Final Word
The Chardonnay wines undergo malolactic fermentation in vats or casks based on the aromatic profile sought, then mature for 11 months in oak. Château de Chamirey places that white wine beside Mercurey reds and named Premier Cru bottles.
Sources
- www.chamirey.com/en/estate/history
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ch%C3%A2teau_de_Chamirey
- broadbent.com/producers/chateau-de-chamirey
- www.idealwine.info/chateau-de-chamirey-a-perfect-expression-of-mercurey
- www.chamirey.com/en/wine/2/mercurey-rouge/2023
- www.chamirey.com/en/wine/5/mercurey-rouge-premier-cru-clos-du-roi/2021