MERLIN

Editorial

Welcome to the Olivier Merlin Domaine.

Living in the village of La Roche-Vineuse at the foot of the rocky outcrops of the Mâconnais, Olivier and Corinne Merlin are passionately devoted to their craft and to the terroirs of the Mâconnais and Beaujolais from which they make their wines.
Through this website you can discover their trade secrets, understand their philosophy, and learn about the numerous appellations which the domaine has to offer.
Enjoy your visit!

News

2009: splendid promise

For the reds, picking began with the
Beaujolais grapes on September 7th and, notably, the Moulin-à-Vent La Rochelle.
Yields from the Gamay were low, a hot spell in late August having concentrated
the berries. First impressions are of ripe black fruit aromas but without the
jammy quality of the 2003 wines. Vatting lasted 12 days. Though acidities were
relatively low, the wines make a positive impact thanks to their superb
structure. "I'm extremely optimistic," comments Olivier Merlin.

Picking of Pinot Noir grapes for the
burgundies began on September 12th. Volume was reasonable and the grapes were
in perfect health with high potential alcohol. The fruit was 100% de-stemmed
and vatting was kept to about 12 days. The result, as of today, is wines with
smooth and silky tannins and clean-cut aromas of red fruits and flowers.

The Chardonnay-based whites - Mâcon,
Saint-Véran, Pouilly-Fuissé, Viré-Clessé. etc - were picked between the 6th and
18th of September, by which time they were exceptionally well-ripened with
potential alcohol between 12.8° and 14°. Their fruit based aromas feature
vineyard peach and Williams pears.

The 2009 vintage followed a year of
clearly-marked seasons. The winter was cold, the spring wet, and the summer
splendid with a few storms (which left the domaine undamaged) and a heat-wave
in August. The autumn allowed us to harvest under optimum conditions and to
bring home ripe, healthy grapes.

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News from Merlin