Louis Jadot Domaine des Héritiers Beaune Clos des Ursules 1er Cru 2015

The Clos des Ursules once belonged the convent of Saint-Ursule when the wall separating it from the rest of Les Vignes Franches was built. In 1826 it was the first vineyard that Louis Henry Denis Jadot bought and it has remained a Jadot family 'Monopole' ever since. It always produces the most generous and full-bodied of Beaunes with rich fruit, complexity, structure and depth, making it a Grand Cru in all but name.

Weather: 2015 has been drawn to comparisons to the excellent 2005. A wet winter was needed to replenish the soils that had been left dry from the previous hot, dry summer. Patches of rain throughout the year ensured a freshness in the grapes. The nights were hot in late June and July and as a result saw some fruits fall off the bunches leading to lower yields. The grape structure had thick skins which mean ripe tannins and polyphenols.

Technical Information:
Vineyards: Clos des Ursules
Grape Varities: 100% Pinor Noir
Drink: Now to 2025

Tasting Note: Typically muted but now after a few years, the flavours are bold. Dark cherry and black fruit on the palate with serious concentration. Quite dry without being astringent but will be great with food in the medium term.

Louis Henry Denis Jadot founded Maison Louis Jadot in 1859. But even before then, Maison Jadot had its roots in the vineyards, with the Jadot family's purchase of Clos des Ursules in 1826. The négociant house expanded rapidly under the guidance of Louis Henry Denis Jadot, with a focus on the markets of northern Europe. His son, Louis Jean Baptiste, took over the management of the company in 1900 and expanded operations by buying numerous vineyards, including Corton Charlemagne and Chevalier Montrachet Les Demoiselles.

The next generation, under the guidance of Louis Auguste Jadot, developed new export markets, particularly those in England and the US, with the help of Rudy Kopf, the founder of the Kobrand Corporation. In 1954, André Gagey joined the company as Louis Auguste Jadot's deputy. On the latter's premature death in 1962, André Gagey succeeded him as Maison Jadot's director. And, in 1984, André Gagey's son, Pierre-Henry, joined the company. In 1985, in order to ensure the company's future, Madame Jadot decided to sell the company to the family of Rudy Kopf, Jadot's US importer. Pierre-Henry Gagey became president of Maison Louis Jadot in 1992.

Cellar Master: Jacques Lardière
Winery Location: Beaune | Burgundy
Annual Production (bottles): Undisclosed