📜 Mercurey

Mercurey is a French protected designation of origin (AOC) for dry still white and red wines from two communes of the Saône-et-Loire department in Burgundy. It has been in the EU register since 18 September 1973.

Grapes are harvested, and wines are made and aged, in Mercurey and Saint-Martin-sous-Montaigu. The specification says the AOC was initially recognised by a decree of 11 September 1936.

White wines come from Chardonnay B as the main variety, with Pinot Gris G as an accessory variety. Red wines come mainly from Pinot Noir N, with Chardonnay B and Pinot Gris G as accessory varieties. Accessory varieties are allowed only in mixed plantings and up to 15% of each plot.

The minimum natural alcoholic strength is 11% vol for white and 10.5% for red, and after enrichment total strength may not exceed 13.5%. Finished white wines contain at most 3 g/l of fermentable sugars, and finished red wines at most 2 g/l (4 g/l if total acidity is at least 4.13 g/l as tartaric acid).

The yield is 57 hl/ha for white and 50 hl/ha for red, with upper limits (rendement butoir) of 64 and 58 hl/ha. Vines are planted at a minimum of 8,000 per hectare.

The name may be completed by the term Premier Cru, alone or followed by the name of a climat. The specification lists climats such as Clos de Paradis, Clos des Barraults, Clos des Montaigus, Le Clos du Roy, Les Byots, Les Champs Martin, Les Saumonts and Sazenay.

Mercurey is the largest appellation of the Côte Chalonnaise, with roughly 640 hectares of vines (646 ha in 2008). Pinot Noir makes about 85 to 90% of what is produced, so this is mostly a red wine country. Among the premier crus, Clos l'Évêque is the largest at about 16.2 ha, while Clos du Roy covers roughly 10.6 ha.