Famille Cordier
— Portfolio —
BOURGOGNE BLANC JEAN DE LA VIGNE 2021
Organic
Bottle Shot
With Bourgogne wines continuing to skyrocket in price Christophe’s offers simply superb value, much to do with him owning great plots bordering Fuisse and not at the mercy of growers. He’s also streamlined vinification via technology (see later). Sourced from 25 year old estate vineyards close to Pouilly Loche. Schist soils, average yields of 35 hcl/hct.
Hand picked then the majority fermented exclusively in 3800ltr wooden vats. What’s special about these vats is that the Battonage (lees stirring, a key element to adding texture in Chardonnay) is achieved using Christophe’s state of the art automated battonage ‘propellers’ at the bottom of the Foudre. They are exactly as they sound, a propeller that Christophe can be programmed specific to each vat/vintage. Cordier was the first to source these vats in Burgundy, which were generally used in Champagne. Post primary and malolactic fermentation the wine sees 9 months in these same 3500ltr wood vats. The remaining 30% of the cuvee is fermented in seasoned 500ltr barrels and added in the blend after aging.
“Moderate golden color. Touches of the exotic, phenolic and petrol characters can be found on the white fleshed fruit aromas. The exceptionally rich, even opulent, flavors possess reasonably good energy while exhibiting acceptable depth and persistence. I would describe this as somewhat atypical in style but interesting, nonetheless” – Burghound
MACON MILLY-LAMARTINE CLOS DU FOUR 2020
Organic
Bottle Shot
East facing. Amongst the highest altitude in Macon Limestone and Clay. This is a special plot of vineyards called Clos du Four in the northern part of the Macon situated at a higher altitude than the surrounding appellation at 300m. Widely recognized as the best section of the vineyard in Milly. East facing full of limestone. This means it’s only Cordier and the Lafon family who make this exclusive wine.
Fermentation In 300ltr barrels, both new and aged with regular battonage.
POUILLY FUISSE 1ER CRU LES VIGNES BLANCHES 2020
Bottle Shot
The 1er Cru of Les Vignes Blanche is sandwiched between Les Perrieres in the South the Le Clos to the North, the famous monopole of Chateau Fuisse. This is the largest parcel Famille Cordier own of 1er Cru, 2.7 hectares spread across 7 differing parcels. More ‘white clay’ than the pebbles of
Les Perrieres. Average age of the parcels is over 65 years old. Although not Perrieres Christophe comments that is is one of the ‘fresher’ climats of the village. Fermented exclusively in 500ltr barrels, 20% new. 18 months on lees. No fining, light filtration.
POUILLY FUISSE 1ER CRU VERS CRAS 2020
Bottle Shot
Ver Cras sits on it’s own on the right hand side of the village of Fuisse if you are looking up to the amphitheatre of 1er Cru’s including Les Menetrieres, Le Clos and Les Vignes Blanche. It’s unlike the forementioned Cru’s as it’s on a plateau, the whole vineyard is relatively flat. The soil itself is very similar to Champagne, younger limestone than the other 1er Cru’s in the village. Lot’s of white limestone/chalk, not a lot of clay.
Cordier’s challenge here which he openly admits is it’s a very exposed site, a warm climate that he has to manage very carefully to retain acidity. With this in mind he only uses horses to plough the vineyard to reduce compaction of the soil and uses an alternate trellising to his other sites, specifically allowing more canopy growth to offer shading during the growing season. One other advantage is the establishment of his vineyards – an average age of 45 years old including a now very handy north facing parcel. Fermented exclusively in 500ltr barrels, 20% new. 18 months on lees. No fining, light filtration.
Sweet Spot – Outstanding – “There is a suggestion of the exotic to the aromas of white and yellow peach, passion fruit and honeysuckle. There is excellent richness and solid volume to the intense, stony and delineated medium weight flavors where the lengthy finish is once again bone-dry and lemony. Fine quality here and worth your interest” – 91-93 – Burghound
POUILLY FUISSE 1ER CRU LES PERRIERES 2020
Bottle Shot
The 1er Cru of Les Perrieres is the most southerly of the hill that looks East down at the village of Fuisse. To the north is the much larger 1er Cru of Les Vignes Blanche then on up through to Le Clos, Les Menetrieres and Les Reisses. This sequence of 1er Cru’s some would say are the ‘golden mile’ of the village.
Les Perrieres is the closest to the forest and in fact during the growing season the vineyard is shaded in the afternoon by these trees. As Christophe describes a ‘very fresh’ terrior. More acidity, tighter style Pouilly Fuisse. Typical of the name of other famous Perrieres the vineyard is littered with a lot of limestone close to the surface. Cordier own 0.3 hectates of this East facing 1er Cru. Vines are 15 years old. Fermented exclusively in 500ltr barrels, 20% new. 18 months on lees. No fining, light filtration.
“A cool and restrained nose timidly offers its pretty array of citrus, floral, white peach and soft wood aromas. The racy, intense and more mineralinfused flavors are once again intensely lemony while the refreshing, balanced and lingering finish is bone-dry” – 91-92 – Burghound
POUILLY FUISSE 1ER CRU LES MENETRIERES 2020
Bottle Shot
Arguably Pouilly Fuisse’s most famous 1er Cru, situated just North of the Le Clos monopole. Christophe with somewhat of a glint in his eye tells me he’s never really sure why this site produces such exquisite wines, but simply it does. One thing he does allude to is the fact he owns two differing parcels within the 1er Cru. One East facing, one South facing, one with more clay, one with more limestone and this blending of the two terriors is a factor he enjoys immensely when producing this wine. These two parcels combine to a total of 0.35 hectares and an average age of 65 to 70 years old.
This is the only 1er Cru that after pressing he puts all the lees into the barrel, no racking prior to fermentation + all the juice goes into 350ltr barrels (as opposed to 500ltr for the other 1er Cru’s), 20% new oak. 18 months on full lees. No fining, light filtration.
Sweet Spot – Outstanding – “Very pungent aromas are comprised by wood toast, menthol and smoky reduction. The mouth coating, powerful and intense bigger-bodied flavors are relatively refined while the lingering, complex and saline-suffused finish. This too is worth a look” – 91-93 – Burghound