Domaine Jean et Jean-Louis Trapet

Les meilleurs vins de France 2011, domaine classé *** :
« Producteur attentif et sensible, adepte convaincu mais sage de la biodynamie, Jean-Louis Trapet a positionné très haut le domaine familial. Une succession récente lui a fait perdre une partie de ses vignes au profit de ses cousins Rossignol, mais il dispose toujours d’un beau patrimoine avec trois grands crus et deux premiers crus, entre autres. Toutes les cuvées sont également réussies, que ce soit en grand ou en petit millésime, avec un respect du terroir digne d’éloges et dans un grand style qui fait honneur à la Bourgogne. Cette année, il récidive et va encore plus loin dans l’élégance de ses vins. Nous lui accordons une troisième étoile largement méritée. »

Bettane & Desseauve, Grand guide des vins de France 2011 :
« Jean-Louis Trapet, magnifiquement aidé par son épouse Andrée, vigneronne alsacienne aussi engagée que lui, porte progressivement son célèbre domaine familial aux sommets absolus de la Bourgogne actuelle. La viticulture obéit aux principes les plus sains de la biodynamie, et les sols à nouveau vivants, expriment dans les vins finis, les plus subtiles nuances du terroir. »

Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate :
« I couldn’t help thinking that the 2007 and especially the 2008 vintage would be a test of Jean-Louis Trapet’s biodynamic methods and faith, as well as of his predilection for vendange entier. There was a lot to like about his 1995 and 1986 collections over and beyond the obvious earnestness and integrity of their author, but one could scarcely claim that precision and purity of fruit were these wines’fortes. Trapet has passed the test, his faith unshaken and his methods successful in rendering two fine collections that exhibit precise aromas and flavors. Indeed, there are few if any other addresses where I would rank both the 2007s and 2008s ahead of the 2006s. There was, however, a heavy price to be paid for this success, in the form of drastically-reduced yields. Trapet joked that « there was just as much rot and difficulty in 2008 as in 2007 ; the difference was you had to put up with it for longer. » He held off harvesting in 2008 until September 29, and had to perform a severe selection. None of the 2007s (with potential alcohols ranging from 12.5-13.5 %) were chaptalized – and the 2008s only slightly. »

Allen Meadow’s Burghound. com :
« The fervent biodynamist Jean-Louis Trapet calls 2008 a "very Burgundian vintage that was the result of a difficult growing season. Our biodynamic treatments worked well however and I’m happy with the results. We began picking on the 30th of September and doing a very thorough sorting job was absolutely critical as you can’t make good wine from rotten or under ripe berries. Sugars were relatively good at between 11.8 and 12.9 % though quantities were down around 30 % relative to a normal harvest. I did a slightly softer vinification and used a lower percentage of whole clusters as well. In 2008, I used between 10 and 15 % whereas I typically use 30 to 40 %. I like the wines a lot now that it’s possible to really assess them because prior to the malos, which were long and slow, they were very tough to read. Now however, the wines are extremely fresh and crisp with lovely acid balance and real underlying tension. Plus they have excellent transparency and thus are very terroir in character." As to the now in-bottle '07s, they have largely confirmed my impressions from last year with the exceptions of the somewhat disappointing L’Ostrea and Clos Prieur. As we were examining the '07s, the topic of what other vintages it might reasonably resemble came up and I was surprised when Trapet invoked 1949. While I am not in agreement with the analogy, if the '07s turn out to be anywhere close to as good, they will be extremely successful. »

Carnet de vigne, Omnivore 2e cuvée :
« Le vigneron : Jean-Louis Trapet est un acteur discret de la biodynamie mais il en est un sincère passeur. Il l’évoque en gestes simples et en apporte la preuve par le vin qui n’en finit pas de grandir. Et même si on trône ici sur un des plus jolis piédestaux du pinot, on n’en fait pas des caisses. Le débit de paroles de Jean-Louis invite déjà à la douceur. C’est sa clef. « Le geste délicat plutôt que la force brutale. Il suffit d’optimiser les moments d’intervention, en fonction des rythmes de la terre et des planètes, pour moins interférer sur la vigne. Ensuite, on complète les soins par des tisanes de plantes. » Pour calmer le stress de la taille, il va jusqu’à passer chaque fin de journée une « eau d’enduit » réparatrice. 14 000 pieds couvés. »

Domaine Jean et Jean-Louis Trapet - Bourgogne