Domaine A.F Gros - Richebourg Grand Cru 2017
Domaine A.F. Gros is a domaine based in Pommard that produces Pinot Noir at Villages, Premier Cru and Grand Cru levels from the communes of Pommard, Beaune, Savigny-les-Beaune, Vosne-Romanée and Chambolle-Musigny. The estate is one of three formed in 1988, when Jean and Jeanine Gros began to divide their estate (Domaine Jean Gros) among their three children, Michel, Bernard and Anne-Françoise.
The Domaine covers 14 hectares mainly planted with Pinot Noir, both in Côte de Beaune and Côte de Nuits. A plot of vines recently acquired from Moulin à Vent (in Beaujolais) completes the range of wines on offer.
The wines are made in Beaune using a short cold maceration by Anne-Françoise's husband Francois Parent, whose share of his family estate – Domaine Parent – was added to the estate on their marriage. The culture of the soil is traditional, with responsible farming and applies the principles of sustainable agriculture. The wines are aged in French oak barrels for 12 to 18 months. Aging lasts 12 months for Villages appellation (50% new barrels on average), 15 months for Premiers Crus (65% new barrels) and 18 months for Grands Crus (100% new barrels).
The Richebourg Grand Cru is a 100% Pinot Noir from the Richebourg plot, right in the heart of the best appellations in Burgundy. The vines are 5, 25 and 75 years old and the grapes, once cut by hand, are brought back to the cellar in less than 30 minutes. The vinification takes place in enamelled concrete vats and wooden vats. Cold maceration (5°C) is carried out for approximately 3 to 5 days with a slight pumping over. After 5 days, the tanks are heated to 25-30°C for more than 10 days. The wood for the oak barrels comes mainly from the forests of Chatillonais and Fontainebleau. This wine is aged on average 18 months, with 100% new barrels.
