La Pousse d'Or

Santenay 1^er Cru

Les Gravières

Appellation: 1er Cru

Area: 1.25 hectares (3.09 acres)

Orientation: east

Soils: hard limestone reinforced by marn

Years planted: 64% in 1950, 15% in 1995, and 21% in 1998

Viticulture: The vines are cultivated with neither pesticide nor insecticide, and the sole addition, la fumure, is of naturel origin. The earth is worked without using weed-killers, to maintain aeration and thus the suppleness of the soil.

Vinification: manual harvest in boxes, sorted at the cuverie, 100% destemmed. For the 1999, cold maceration for 5 days, temperature-controlled during fermentation, two pigeages per day, cuvaison for 14 days.

Elevage: sur lie in oak barrels (20% new) for 15 months, nautal and tardive malolactic fermentation, neither fined nor filtered, racking and bottling by gravity alone.

Tasting notes: Fine ruby red color, fine nose with aromas of red and floral bay, mouth of great finesse with fat dark tannins, a wine of great elegance.