Les Haut Jarrons is consistently the fullest bodied, most tannic of the Premier Cru wines at Louis Chenu Pére et Filles, and perhaps the wine that requires the most patience when first opening. The site benefits from regular streams of cool air that contribute to slow ripening.
The Hauts-Jarrons (Jarrons meaning tree branches) are located in the middle of the slope under the Mont Battois hill heading towards Beaune. Their deep and sandy soil is similar to that of the Beaune-Bressandes. Likewise, the wines are more like those from Beaune than Savigny. Very full-bodied and tannic, they have good aromas but remain closed when young. They require a few years before reaching fullness and are favorable to a long ageing process. (Domaine Louis Chenu Père et Filles)
In the video below, Juliette Chenu describes the site as one of the best they own, which produces wine with all of the finesse she expects from Savigny-Lès-Beaune along with a more powerful, more tannic backbone.
Situating Haut Jarrons within Savigny-Lès-Beaune and the Côte d'Or
The village of Savigny-Lès-Beaune sits north of the city of Beaune in a small, amphitheater-shaped valley on both sides of the small Rhoin river. The shape of the valley as well as the forests that sit above the vines contribute cool winds that help deter excessive heat, keeping the wines fresh and bright. Hillside vineyards on both sides of the river are included in the village's twenty-two Premier Cru sites The area is part of the sub-appellation called the Côte de Beaune in Burgundy's larger Côte d'Or region.
Les Haut Jarrons sits on the right, or west, side of the river, Haut Jarrons is on the opposite side of the river Rhoin from Les Lavières and Aux Clous. It includes some of the steepest parcels in all of Savigny.
"Located on the right Bank of the river...the orientation of the vines varies... At the top, the slope is relatively steep, for example, in the climat Redrescul and Les Haut Jarrons. it softens when we move East towards the plain, to the climat Les Peuillets. It ranges from 250 to 300 meters in altitude. The upper part of the slope has thin soils rich in pebbly debris resting on Limestone from the last stage of the middle Jurassic. Heading down the slope, the soil becomes deeper and more clayed. At the very bottom of the slope, the soils get lighter with more alluvial deposits. This area is very airy and subject to cooler air currents coming down from the valley and the surrounding Combe. Which is very good considering the current climatic conditions. The wines, mainly red, are aromatically rich, well-balanced, and have an excellent structure. They are somewhat firm in their youth, but they quickly soften and give the wine a very pleasant texture.
" Jean-Pierre Renard, from the text of his detailed video created by the École des Vins de Bourgogne,
Tasting Notes and Reviews for Aux Clous from Louis Chenu Père et Filles:
2018 Aux Clous, 92/100: Smooth, rounded red and black cherry fruit shines subtly on the nose of this wine. The palate comes in with a firm crunchiness of fine tannin and ripe freshness that accentuates the aromatic red cherry even more. It's a wine with lovely balance and depth. Anne Krebiehl MW
