Organic and Biodynamic Burgundies from Jean-Claude Rateau and Jane et Sylvain!

5/28/14 -

(Gevrey 1er Cru "Fontenys")

We're very happy to have a new shipment from our organic friends, Jane et Sylvain in Gevrey-Chambertin and we're extremely proud to feature new arrivals from Jean-Claude Rateau who was the first Biodynamic vigneron in Burgundy, dating back to 1979!

Jean-Cluade Rateau was the fourth vigneron in France to convert to biodynamics, beginning with two hectares, learning from Yves Herody and working with Claude Bourguignon to analyse his soils. Rateau has always believed that the soils must be alive to ensure the healthy transfer of nutrients to the vines, especially important being the mycorrhizal funghi which assimilate phosphorous and live in symbiosis with the vines roots. He has developed a plowing regimen that encourages the life of the soil, uses natural composts and biodynamic preparations and has a varied population of wild plants in the vineyards that harbor beneficial insects. One of the few growers in Burgundy to practice biodynamic agriculture, Jean-Claude's techniques in the cellar also enable the production of real wines of terroir. Fermentations are solely with wild-yeasts and stems are included in proportion depending on the vintage. There are manual cap-punchings, but no attempt to over-extract. Aging is uniquely in used barrels, three to ten years old, and minimal SO2 is used. M. Rateau does not seek or receive a great deal of media attention but his wines speak for themselves, with a purity and mineral character seldom seem in "modern" Burgundy, and we urge you to try them!