Grégoire Hoppenot describes the workload required for his 0.7 hectares of 35-year-old vines in Morgon as “epic”. It’s a magnificent-looking site, steeply sloped (30% gradient) at almost 400m elevation with a south to southwest orientation. The soils are stony and shallow, with pieces of granite littered throughout. The vines are at a density of 10,000 plants per hectare, giving some indication of the challenge pickers face during harvest.
Following 15 days of whole-bunch fermentation with ambient yeasts in concrete vats (60hl) the wine was rested for eight months in both large oak foudre and mature Burgundian barrels that had previously seen five vintages.