Gerard Mugneret Vosne-Romanee Cuvee Quatrain 2020

Pascal Mugneret decided to become a vigneron in order to have freedom in his professional life. Working for the family domaine was also an opportunity to preserve what his great grandfather René and father Gérard created. Finally, he wanted to do something with his hands. This is how, in 2005, Pascal took over from his father, with the intention of carrying on the family tradition. Then, a transition took place. He progressively became absorbed in all facets of this unique profession: the vineyards first, then the vinification. Sales came later.

Pascal used to be content in producing a Vosne-Romanée 'village wine', from a blend of 9 terroirs spanning the length of the appellation, as a highly representative example of Vosne. But for a decade he had also been vinifying the parcels separately and trying all sorts of blends. Finally, he decided to make three Vosnes village with a much more coherent geographical and textural definition.

Cuvée 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. 

Since 2016, Pascal has added very moderate SO2 levels: none during vinification; a first addition generally in spring when the temperature increases in the cellar; total SO2 at bottling is 15 to 20 ppm, which is remarkably low for a domaine with prestigious appellations in the Côte de Nuits, and well within the acceptable range for natural wine. In fact, the only parameters keeping Pascal from being adopted as a natural wine icon are purely stylistic—namely, a slightly more pronounced extraction of tannin and some new oak. Yet, as far as farming and additives are concerned, his wines are natural, and he also farms with organic and biodynamic methods.