Laurent Gauthier was born in 1965 on the Cote du Py Hill. His parents were also growers. He estate has existed since 1834. After his studies at BEPAVigne et Vin in 1983, he started is own estate with only 2.5ha. Then in 1991, he took over the estate of his father and now his son, Jason is working in the vines. Laurent is very demanding in the vineyard and being a perfectionist, he is very proud of his wines.
Laurent currently owns 2ha of vines on the famous Cote du Py in Morgon, with a southern exposure and a soil made of blue granite and manganese. The terroir from Morgon is renowned worldwide and Laurent is proud to be able to work with these vines.
Paradoxically, on this magic terroir, winemaking is very easy, the wine is almost made by itself. 16 days maceration on average in gridded tanks with full grapes. Putting wooden gridds on each tanks in order to maintain the cap down and to favour the immersion of the cap in the tank. He is practising only two remontages : pumping the juice over at the begining of the maceration and then that’s it. Just waiting the right time to press the grapes. After the malolactic fermentation is taking place in wooden vats and the ageing will last at least nine months.
Beside Cote du Py, he has 9 ha on the Grands Crase located on the south of Morgon. The soil here is made of rotten rocks (schist) giving every year to the wine mineral and smoky notes. Characterized with a south, south east exposure and light slopes. The winemaking of Grands Crase is more complex and need a good knowledge of each origin and plot of vines. Sometimes distemming the grapes (between 30 and 80%), it depends on the conditions of the year. The maceration is lasting between 10 and 15 days in gridded tanks with temperature controlled under 25°c. After eight days, doing a delestage and then two pigeages before pressing the grapes.
The vines are plowed two times a year (by the spring and fall). And for five years now, some of my vines (4 ha) under grass in order to limit the yields (average around 50 hl/ha), to limit the use of chemicals and to favour the biodiversity in my vines.
The wines age very well thanks to the specificity of my terroirs and can age up to 10 or 20 years.
“I love my job because everyday we have to adapt ourselves to the natural conditions, our look on our vines is very maternal like a mother looking her child. Our wine is like our blood.”
Parcelle "Les Bois" 2021
Morgon L’Eveque 2021
This wine is a blend of the know-how of Laurent, Jason & Elie. L’Evêque is a locality in Morgon, straddling the Côte du Py and Grand Cras climates. The vines are on average 60 years old, so only old vines, as is often the case here. They are organically farmed; everything is ploughed with a tractor and a pickaxe. As with the other cuvees, they really try to remain very low interventionist during the vinification process in order to really transcribe what the terroir brings. The wine presents a garnet robe and violet hints, a nose of blackcurrant, strawberry, and cherry followed by a velvety, greedy, and fruity tase. To be served from 13°C with exotic dishes, red meats, and soft cheeses.
100% Gamay Noir
Terroir : subsoil of decaying granitic rocks, 220 meters elevation, South/South-East exposure Plot : L’Evêque
Winemaking and aging : bi-annual ploughing, trellising, grassing, destemming from 30 to 80%, 10 days maceration during 10 at low temperature, 4 months ageing in old barrels.
Morgon Grand Cras 2020
Deep garnet red robe. Very complex wine, powerful and fleshy, with kirsh, blonde tobacco, blackcurrant and mineral notes. The nose is marked by the specificities of the terroir more than just by the fruit. With more edge, the wine is showing candied strawberries and griottes notes. The finish is very velvety and persistent. Intense and Burgundian as a Pinot Noir!
Varietal : 100% Gamay
Vineyard area : 21 acres
Density of plantation : 4000 vines per acre
Age of vines: 70 years old
Plot : “Grand Cras”
Soil type : Compacted volcanic ashes and granite in decomposition
Elevation : 220 m
Exposure : South, South East
Farming : Sustainable farming, plowing the soil, trellising the vines
Winemaking : Destemming of the grapes up to 80% depending on the year, maceration for 15 days in gridded vats, pushing the cap down
Aging : Aged for 9 months in beaujolais foudres
Clarification : Light filtration
REVIEWS:
Domaine Laurent Gauthier Morgon "Grand Cras" 2016; VINOUS March 2018
Morgon Cote du Py 2020
Deep robe with bluish tints. The nose recalls aromas from Provence with notes of cedar, spices and garrigue. Aromas of cherry and raspberry. The wide variety of the aromas can be surprising. The attack is powerful whereas the mouth offers a remarkable range of flavours: very complex and enjoyable. The finish extends into notes of spices and black berries. Beautiful tannins ensure a very long life to this exceptional bottle. To be served with Casserole dishes and cheese. Try with lamb stew, game and goat’s cheese. Serve at 16°C
Soil: Plots situated at “Côte du Py” – eastern exposure at 260 metres high – alluvial soil made of schist (roche pourrie = rotten rock) which is characteristic of this appellation
Vineyard: 2 hectares of 65 years old vines on average
Winemaking: Vatting for 14 days in gridded tanks – temperatures controlled between 28° and 30°C – aged for 9 months in oak barrels – bottled on the estate in prestige Burgundy bottles and natural corks.
Rewards: 17/20.
In the Jancis ROBINSON online review for the COTE DU PY 2009 Comments: « Deep crimson. Opulent and very ripe. Polished tannins. A Musigny? Lots of stuffing. Very serious. But plumper and more obviously seductive than the Grands Cras”.
Guide Gault Milau: 16/20. COTE DU PY 2009
