2022 Denis Mortet Bourgogne Colette Rosé

Domaine Denis Mortet owns or leases 34 acres in Gevrey-Chambertin, in Burgundy’s Cote de Nuits. Until 1991 the estate was known as Charles Mortet et Fils. But when Denis and his brother Thierry divided the domaine in 1991, Denis used his own name on his wines and acquired additional vineyards. Today the estate includes Grand Cru parcels in Clos de Vougeot and Chambertin. There are also Premier Crus in Gevrey-Chambertin and Chambolle-Musigny. Denis Mortet took his own life in 2006 and the estate is now owned and operated by his wife Laurence and son Arnaud. Under Denis the estate had a reputation for excellence, and writer Clive Coates has noted that Arnaud is following in his father footsteps. In 2008 Coates wrote that “fine 2005s were found” at the estate.

Burgundy in eastern France is, if not the most famous and storied wine region in the world, certainly one of the top two or three. Its winemaking history dates from the Roman era, and its relatively small size and reputation for outstanding wines means that the best wines of Burgundy are generally among the world’s most prized – and costly – wines. At about 110,000 vineyards acres, Burgundy is only 40% as big as Bordeaux, and its system of dividing up vineyards into small, family-owned parcels makes understanding the wines of Burgundy a life-long pursuit for Burgundy enthusiasts. The three main grapes of Burgundy are Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Gamay. Burgundy is a long, narrow, north-south running region consisting of five main areas. They are Chablis in the north, Côte D’Or, Côte Chalonnaise, Mâconnais and Beaujolais, which is just above the Rhone Valley. Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are grown throughout most of Burgundy but Gamay is grown primarily in Beaujolais. The appellation system and rules about labeling can be confusing and the system classifies regions, villages and even individual vineyards. Grand Cru is the most prestigious appellation category, followed by Premier Cru and many village and regional appellations.