About The Producer
Suremain means 'sure hand' in French and Eric is definitely that. He was way ahead of his time and still is. In 1983 he inherited Château de Monthelie from his grandfather, Robert, which sits on the side of a hill in Monthelie. In 1996 he took his vineyards biodynamic. But, that doesn’t mean he’s a man to embrace every little technological miracle that comes along. Eric still believes in getting up close and personal with his grapes- you’ll find him out in the fields. His vines are old and he keeps his yields very low. He is restrained when it comes to new wood.
Terroir & Vineyard Practices:
Eric de Suremain Rully 1er Cru Agneux vineyard is a monopole that was replanted in 2009. Certified Organic/Biodynamic at the strictest level.
Tasting Notes
The pale golden color is evocative. The nose is discreet. It opens slowly to reveal lemony notes and ripe pear. This is a Burgundy lovers Chardonnay. The wine is subtle, elegant, and balanced. It has a round mouthfeel and the distinctive beautiful Burgundy winning acidity.
Vinification
Since 2000, Eric uses a vertical press, similar to what is used in Champagne. The juice filters naturally through the thickness of the cake (mass of the grapes). The harvested juice will remain 3-4 days in the vat to be decanted (the solid material settles at the bottom). It will be put into a barrel or wooden vat for natural yeast fermentation. From there the wine will mature on the lees in barrel for about 15 months.
