Bourgogne Côte Saint-Jacques Rouge “Les Ronces” – Pinot Noir, Domaine Alain Vignot
Alain Vignot cultivates his vines in the heart of the little-known Côte Saint-Jacques vineyard, the most northerly in Burgundy, located on the right bank of the Yonne in Joigny commune.
Stretching across the south/southeast-facing hillside, the Côte Saint-Jacques vineyards back onto the Pays d’Othe plateau. The soil, mainly clay with a predominance of flint, rests on a Turonian subsoil, characterized at base by a white chalk with flint, evolving towards a chalk without flint towards the top. This unique geological situation produces wines with distinctive notes of carbon and flint.
Alain Vignot, heir to a line dating back to the early 17th century, joined the family estate in 1977. He diversified production, initially focused on gray wines, and extended the surface area. In 2006, his son Julien joined him. The domaine covers 13 hectares, 10 of which are dedicated to Côte Saint-Jacques.
“Les Ronces” is a parcel of old vines benefiting from the best exposure conditions on the Côte Saint-Jacques. This plot produces surprisingly full-bodied, rich wines for a fresh terroir.
Hand-harvested, grapes are sorted and selected on a sorting table, then destemmed before being placed in vats for alcoholic fermentation.
This wine is matured for one year in 228L Berthomieu and Ermitage barrels in medium + toast. New barrels are used in varying proportions from one year to the next, to maintain a balance between fruit and taste.
Alain Vignot favors Allier and Tronçais provenances to support natural structure of the Ronces terroir. In this way, barrel guides the terroir without dominating it.
Wines from Les Ronces deliver an emblematic example of Burgundian pinot noir finesse: an elegant, gourmand nose with notes of blackcurrant, blueberry and black cherry. On palate, the wine is tender, with a supple tannic structure enhanced by a subtly spicy aromatic persistence.
