Vignerons des Terres Secretes
Saint-Veran 'Croix de Montceau'

Grape Variety and Terroir
The 5 hectares dedicated to this prestigious variety have particularly fertile argilo-calcareous soils from the Jurassic period and are not far from Roche of Solutre and Vergisson. It is the historic cradle of the Chardonnay grape, which has borrowed its name from a Maconnais village.

Method of Growth
The 'lieux-dits' are selected from the commune of Prisse, amongst the oldest vines (more than 50 years) with optimal exposure. The production is by selected to offer the best quality. The vines are pruned very closely for complete control of the yield. The leaves are stripped and the buds pruned with the utmost care.

Vinification
Such a vintage requires the utmost attention and care. These wines are matured in French oak barrels, coming from the department of Allier, the regions of Vosges or Limousin. The staves are selected and smoked moderately. Part of vinification takes place in barrels and part in thermo-regulated vats with particular attention to hygiene during the pellicular maceration, with precise control over stirring (batonnage). This long and careful process contributes to this refined winemaking process. The small deposits in the bottle are natural due to the light filtering of the wine.

A Word from the Cellar Master
This gold-hued wine has an elegant and well-blended nose, possessing aromas of warm buns and fragrant white flowers, The attack is honest and crisp, with a slightly toasted mid-palate. The lingering aftertaste gives an impression of sweetness, giving the wine a good personality.

Serving Suggestions
Three years or more in the cellar will allow more complex aromas to develop. To be served at a temperature of 12 to 14 degrees, with noble food such as fish (salmon, monkfish) and poultry (capon, partridge).
[Information provided by J.H.N.]
[Information is not vintage specific]

Vignerons des Terres Secretes 2016 Croix de Montceau (Saint-Veran)
Points: 90
Price: $35
Designation: Croix de Montceau
Variety: Chardonnay
Appellation: Saint-Veran, Burgundy, France
Winery: Vignerons des Terres Secretes
Alcohol: 13%
Bottle Size: 750 ml
Category: White
Importer: AWDirect (The Wine Trees Portfolio)
Date Published: 10/1/2018
Produced from old vines in a single vineyard, this concentrated wine is packed with yellow fruits and rich creamed-apple flavors brought together by crisp acidity. The wine is dense, ripe and full of fruit, with a final mineral texture. Drink from 2019.

Vignerons des Terres Secretes, Croix de Montceau 2016 St-Veran
Producer: Vignerons des Terres Secretes
Vintage: 2016
Appellation: St-Veran
Region: Burgundy
Country: France
Score: 15.5/20
Colour: White
Alcohol: 13%
When to drink: 2017 - 2020
Published: 5 Jan 2018
Date tasted: 27 Sep 2017
Reviewer: Julia Harding MW
Fresher and livelier on the nose than the Macon. More herbal and lightly smoky/dusty. Creamy, rounded, gentle and fresh. Harmonious and tangy without great intensity but has surprising persistence. (JH)