Philippe Le Hardi Mercurey Vieilles Vignes Rouge 2021 750ml

Beloved for its deep and flavorful reds made of Pinot Noir, Mercurey is the largest and most important village in the Côte Chalonnaise of Burgundy with most of its vineyards tucked away in hillsides or stretched along the aptly-named “Golden Valley.” This valley, sheltered from the moist and cool air that funnels along at lower elevations, is ideal for ripening Pinot noir.

Mercurey follows strict yield laws, similar to those at the Côte d’Or village level, promoting the development of deep, full, concentrated and age-worthy Pinot noirs. In their youth, a chewy and rich structure supports flavors of ripe strawberry, raspberry and cherry. Age brings notes of underbrush, tobacco and cocoa.

While Pinot Noir claims the majority of Mercurey vineyard acreage, Chardonnay does grow here and produces uniqely floral and spicey scented white wines.

This Mercurey wine has received good scores from various critics.

Critic tasting note: (2018 vintage) "A heady hint of oak appears first on the nose of this wine but is soon joined by ripe, tart red cherry. That cherry fruit is intense on the palate and comes with concentration and pervasive freshness, all the more remarkable in the warm 2018 vintage. The intense fruit is met by fine tannins and a lovely texture. Anne Krebiehl MW" - 92/100, Wine Enthusiast