Millerandage

At the end of the video there is a fascinating tasting of Olivier Leflaives village whites from Chassagne, Mersault, and, Puligny exploring the differences between the three.

Chief Wine Hacker

« Back to Wine Words Index

Millerandage or Chicken and Hen refers to differences in the size of berries in a bunch, with some normal sized berried and others very small. The smaller berries tend to have high levels of acid increasing the acidity of the end wine. Millerandage is more prominent in some varieties and clones than others. It is often caused by poor weather condition, cold and rain, during flower reducing the effectiveness of flower fertilisation. The number of seed in a berry impacts the amount of natural growth hormones that or produced in the individual berries, the fewer the seeds the less growth hormone and the small the berry.

Synonyms:
Hen and Chicken, Chicken and Hen
« Back to Wine Words Index

Feeling Thirsty?

Giuseppe Cortese Barbaresco Rabajà Riserva JEROBOAM 3L 2016

Nebbiolo from Barbaresco, Piedmont

Giuseppe Cortese Barbaresco Rabajà Riserva JEROBOAM 3L 2016

🍇RABAJÀ RABAJÀ RABAJÀ 🇮🇹 The 2016 Rabajà Riserva has that spark taking it from good to great. Engaging from the outset, take your time, enjoy this over hours even days in its youth.Cortese have always marched to their own tune, making grape first wines that have a finesse and sophistication about them. Balancing freshness and energy with development. They often appear a little out of sorts when young, particularly at the entry level. Those with patience are rewarded as they shap

Vintage 2016 Jeroboam 3L
$1,690
$1670ea in any 3+
$1650ea in any 6+
Add to cart
Domaine Ghislaine Barthod Bourgogne Blanc 'Les Gravières' 2023

Chardonnay from Chambolle-Musigny, Côte-de-Nuits

Domaine Ghislaine Barthod Bourgogne Blanc ‘Les Gravières’ 2023

Barthod’s Bourgogne Blanc, made from Chardonnay planted in the late 2010s. It was the estate’s first commercial white wine (they previously produced only tiny, family-use whites from old Pinot Beurot and Chardonnay vines). The Les Graviers vineyard, named for its stony soils and located near Les Bon Batons, on the edge of Chambolle, saw its first release from the 2020 vintage, with élevage set at 50% used 500-litre oak and 50% terracotta amphora. The 2023 is delicious: both fleshy and racy

Vintage 2023
$111
$106ea in any 3+
$101ea in any 6+
Add to cart
Domaine Faiveley Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru 'Petite Chapelle' 2022

Pinot Noir from Gevrey-Chambertin, Côte-de-Nuits

Domaine Faiveley Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru ‘Petite Chapelle’ 2022

The “Petite Chapelle” parcel is situated just below the “Chapelle du Dessus” now named “Chapelle-Chambertin” Grand Cru. Exposition East Soil Pebbly Surface area 0 ha 17 a 08 ca (0,42 Acres) Years the vines were planted 1987 The grapes are harvested and sorted by hand. The proportion of de-stemmed grapes and whole clusters varies depending on the vintage. […]

Vintage 2020
$410
Add to cart
Passopisciaro Contrada 'P' Porcaria Nerello Mascelese 2020

Nerello Mascalese from Etna, Sicily

Passopisciaro Contrada ‘P’ Porcaria Nerello Mascelese 2020

Lower elevation builds more generosity into Porcaria. Such wonderful texture! Made from Nerello Mascelese, some call it the Barolo of the South, others a cross between Pinot & Nebbiolo. I prefer to say it is itself & delicious. The vineyards of Etna have undergone a major renaissance in the last couple of decades. Passipisciaro has been one of the wineries at the forefront. I was blown away the first time I tasted this wine.NOTE: The two reviews below were made almost 12 months apart

Vintage 2020
$188
$178ea in any 3+
$168ea in any 6+
Add to cart