About The Wine
Aux Réas and Au-Dessus de la Rivière combine for 1.2 hectares and are the two parcels that make up this Vosne-Romanée. The parcels were planted between 1935 and 1955 in the southernmost section of Vosne-Romanée, right under the north side of Nuits-Saint-Georges. Vineyard maps of the appellation show empty white space in an area occupied by houses on the land between Au-Dessus de la Rivière and a parcel to the north, Aux Genevrières, and a topographic view reveals an undulation that forms a sort of small amphitheater facing east—perhaps the result of a spring originating just above it. Berthaut’s parcel of Au-dessus de la Rivière sits above this tilted bank with a more beneficial aspect (at least today) facing southeast on a gentle slope. Aux Réas, situated further uphill is also outside of the slight tilt toward the north of this small ravine/amphitheater. Of course, the bedrock is limestone and the topsoil a mixture of clay and limestone rock. Given its location the wine may be a little more in the style of Nuits-Saint-Georges from the north hill, which is to say perhaps with just the slightest degree more of structure and a tad less suppleness than a village wine from further north in the appellation, above or below the epicenter of Vosne-Romanée’s great crus. However, the newer house style that arrived with Amélie veers toward a more upfront fruit appeal coupled with the influence of the old vines can’t be counted out for a youthful wine filled with pleasure. The old vines here may also gain some extra ground in suppleness where younger vines may fall short. However, that is for you, the taster, to decide. This wine was fermented in concrete and aged in fût de chênes with about 30% new oak.