Gerard Mugneret Vosne Romanee Cuvee Quatrain Burgundy France, 2018, 750

• Etymology: This is the cuvée’s name, not a lieu-dit. A quatrain is a stanza of four lines, especially one having alternate rhymes.
• Size: 0.88 ha (2.17 ac)
• Variety: Pinot Noir
• Vine Age: Planted in 1985 (Ormes), 1966/1970 (Chalandins), 1944/1949/1975 (Reas, Jaquines) and 1909 (Croix Blanches).
• Terroir: A blend of two parcels from the north (Ormes and Chalandins) on deep clay soils, and three parcels from the south (Réas, Jaquines and Croix Blanches) on lighter soils.
• Viticulture: Uncertified biodynamic
• Vinification: 60% whole cluster, ambient yeast ferments. Aged in oak barrels (25% new) for 12 to 18 months. Since 2016, very moderate sulfur additions: none during vinification, a little during élevage and before bottling, for a total of 15 to 20 ppm.
  

Pascal says that he used to be quite content to describe his Vosne-Romanée village, then a blend of 9 terroirs spanning the length of the appellation, as a highly representative example of Vosne. But for a decade he had been vinifying the parcels separately and trying all sorts of blends. Finally, he decided to make three Vosnes village that have a much more coherent geographical and textural definition.

Quatrain is a blend of his northernmost and southernmost parcels. They bring different and complimentary qualities. The north has deeper soils and is fruit-driven, but it lacks mineral definition and can taste heavy. The south is about structure, but on its own, it lacks joy. The combination produces a Vosne with crunchy, fresh, lifted fruit, that is delicious even without cellaring.