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| Jean-Claude BOISSET once again goes against the grain, launching a Burgundy grand cru with a screw-cap. |
| February 2007 |
The Maison Jean-Claude Boisset chose the occasion of the London launch of its 2005 vintage to announce it will be offering two of its great Côte d’Or reds with screw-caps. The wines available with this efficient, modern closure will be the Chambertin and the Beaune Premier Cru Les Bressandes from the exceptional 2005 vintage.
The Maison already has significant experience with screw-cap closures. Convinced of the quality, some of Jean-Claude Boisset’s great Burgundy reds have been available with screw-caps since 2003, including the Santenay Premier Cru Clos Rousseau, Chambolle-Musigny and Gevrey-Chambertin. In 2004, the first whites were offered with the closure.
“Instead of the more usual usage for screw-caps, which involves mainly bottom-of-the-range wines, we are convinced by the qualities offered by this type of closure and are not afraid to pursue this strategy – the future of great wines lies with screw-caps,” says Grégory Patriat, the Maison’s young winemaker who puts his name to these haute-couture wines produced in small quantities from rigorously selected plots. The dégustation of a 1966 wine, sealed with a prototype screw cap, was a determining factor.
The screw-cap has the commonly acknowledged advantage of removing the risk of ‘corked’ wine or any kind of taste contamination, and it also ensures uniformity from one wine to the next, unlike wine in bottles sealed with corks. Moreover, the latest generation of screw-caps ensure a slight oxygenation of the wine through their high-performance seals, in the same manner as do more traditional corks. This is clearly demonstrated by the Stelvin Lux+ model used by Boisset, which preserves all of the wine’s freshness – its fruity qualities and full aromatic expression – the defining qualities of the Maison Jean-Claude Boisset style.
This is a truly innovative move in Côte d’Or as it is the first time that premier and grand cru red wines will use screw-tops. The latest generation of Stelvin Lux+ screw caps are even more aesthetically pleasing than the previous range as the thread is hidden inside the cap, giving a naturally elegant look to the monogrammed brand’s sophisticated design. The caps cost even more than traditional corks but the Maison considers it worth the expense.
These wines will first be available in the UK and abroad, and then in France later on this year.
Created in 1961, this Burgundian Maison has been focusing its efforts on the Côte de Nuits and Côte de Beaune since the arrival of young winemaker Grégory Patriat in 2002. Jean-Claude Boisset’s philosophy is about creating wines of the highest possible quality, which express the uniqueness and excellence of the terroir – the very essence of Burgundy.
“This pioneering spirit has always been a strong family trait,” explains Jean-Charles Boisset, the forerunner of the latest generation of Boisset innovators.
“We respect tradition, but at the same time, we try to encourage people to consider a new approach if the means are there to improve upon a wine’s quality,” he explains. “To us, wines that represent their terroir and have a strong cultural heritage shouldn’t be stuck in a rut. On the contrary, they should be evolving in step with new developments that can improve their quality. It’s our way of paying homage to those who have shown us the way to rare, exceptional Burgundies so appreciated not just by wine connoisseurs but by the world over.”
Photos High Resolution upon request
Press contacts: Nathalie Bergès-Boisset & Véronique Destaing
Phone : + 33 3 80 62 61 61 |
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