Trying to finally taste one of the rarest grapes in the world, Cesar – Domaine Verret Irancy
Trying to finally taste one of the rarest grapes in the world, Cesar – Domaine Verret Irancy
by Uptons_BJs
13 Comments
Uptons_BJs
In Northern Burgundy, there’s this little village just southwest of Chablis called Irancy. At 47°42’51.7″N, it is one of northernmost villages in Burgundy, and its Wikipedia page calls it one of the northernmost regions that produces still red wine in the world (in comparison, Niagara is only around 43° North).
Irancy is the home of one of the rarest grapes in the world – Cesar. There’s less than 2 hectares of Cesar in Irancy, where it is practically the only place where this grape is grown. Irancy is the only appellation in Burgundy that uses this grape (up to 10% permitted), where it is mostly used to add a bit of color and body to Pinot Noir.
Hence why when I saw this bottle pop up at my government liquor store, I just had to try it. Although the LCBO’s website listing doesn’t actually confirm the presence of Cesar – the listing only says “up to 5% Cesar”.
On the nose, this is classically Burgundy. There’s cherry, and cranberry with perhaps a bit of cloves and other herbs. No Cola. This wine is light bodied for a red, fresh and lively, with notable, but not excessive acidity. The finish is perhaps a bit more tannic than the average pinot noir, but not excessively so.
Did I finally get to taste one of the rarest grapes in the world? I’m not sure honestly, and honestly, even if this wine did contain 5% cesar or something, it didn’t stand out enough to make it drastically different compared to other pinot noirs, perhaps a bit more tannins on the finish?
Regardless, I paid $36 CAD (manufacturer sells it for 19 Euro on their website), and at this price point, this is a pretty decent Burgundy.
JJxiv15
Wow! I have one bottle of Irancy in my cellar. I had no idea about the Cesar or it being practically at the same latitude as Quebec. Thanks for this! Going to open it next week now.
PoweredbyPinot
I’ve enjoyed the Irancy I had. It’s affordable burgundy. I’m not sure it had much Cesar in it, none do, but at $30 for pinot noir, it drank beautifully.
T0N372
Great write up. There are great wines in Irancy. It’s also a lovely town to visit.
MaceWinnoob
Huh, I have two Irancy’s in my shop and I didn’t know that they may be blended in. Let me check.
beigechrist
Is this S3 of Drops of God?
zappapostrophe
Very interesting. This is the kind of post I like to see here. Thank you!
I wonder what a 100% Irancy would taste like?
TechnoTKTrancedancer
This made me go check if there are any Cesar wines available at our wine monopoly, and behold! There’s a 100% Cesar wine available – **Dom. de Flavigny-Alésia Dixit César.** Having a government controlled monopoly that has exclusive rights to sell wine & liquor pays off sometimes (at the moment I can order whatever I want from a selection of 13.000 red wines, to any outlet near me). Ordered one instantly, can’t wait to try!
the3rdmichael
I’m sure this is a very nice village and the wine is good. But the statement about farthest north red wine production is far from the truth. The Canadian Okanagan Valley of British Columbia produces many outstanding red wines, all north of the 49th parallel. Kelowna itself is located at 50 degrees north.
etzpcm
I went to Irancy a couple of years ago, and the next-door village of Coulanges, where I tasted and bought a few bottles from Dom Clos du Rois, also a Pinot / Cesar blend. I still have some I think, I will look up the percentages…
13 Comments
In Northern Burgundy, there’s this little village just southwest of Chablis called Irancy. At 47°42’51.7″N, it is one of northernmost villages in Burgundy, and its Wikipedia page calls it one of the northernmost regions that produces still red wine in the world (in comparison, Niagara is only around 43° North).
Irancy is the home of one of the rarest grapes in the world – Cesar. There’s less than 2 hectares of Cesar in Irancy, where it is practically the only place where this grape is grown. Irancy is the only appellation in Burgundy that uses this grape (up to 10% permitted), where it is mostly used to add a bit of color and body to Pinot Noir.
Hence why when I saw this bottle pop up at my government liquor store, I just had to try it. Although the LCBO’s website listing doesn’t actually confirm the presence of Cesar – the listing only says “up to 5% Cesar”.
On the nose, this is classically Burgundy. There’s cherry, and cranberry with perhaps a bit of cloves and other herbs. No Cola. This wine is light bodied for a red, fresh and lively, with notable, but not excessive acidity. The finish is perhaps a bit more tannic than the average pinot noir, but not excessively so.
Did I finally get to taste one of the rarest grapes in the world? I’m not sure honestly, and honestly, even if this wine did contain 5% cesar or something, it didn’t stand out enough to make it drastically different compared to other pinot noirs, perhaps a bit more tannins on the finish?
Regardless, I paid $36 CAD (manufacturer sells it for 19 Euro on their website), and at this price point, this is a pretty decent Burgundy.
Wow! I have one bottle of Irancy in my cellar. I had no idea about the Cesar or it being practically at the same latitude as Quebec. Thanks for this! Going to open it next week now.
I’ve enjoyed the Irancy I had. It’s affordable burgundy. I’m not sure it had much Cesar in it, none do, but at $30 for pinot noir, it drank beautifully.
Great write up. There are great wines in Irancy. It’s also a lovely town to visit.
Huh, I have two Irancy’s in my shop and I didn’t know that they may be blended in. Let me check.
Is this S3 of Drops of God?
Very interesting. This is the kind of post I like to see here. Thank you!
I wonder what a 100% Irancy would taste like?
This made me go check if there are any Cesar wines available at our wine monopoly, and behold! There’s a 100% Cesar wine available – **Dom. de Flavigny-Alésia Dixit César.** Having a government controlled monopoly that has exclusive rights to sell wine & liquor pays off sometimes (at the moment I can order whatever I want from a selection of 13.000 red wines, to any outlet near me). Ordered one instantly, can’t wait to try!
I’m sure this is a very nice village and the wine is good. But the statement about farthest north red wine production is far from the truth. The Canadian Okanagan Valley of British Columbia produces many outstanding red wines, all north of the 49th parallel. Kelowna itself is located at 50 degrees north.
I went to Irancy a couple of years ago, and the next-door village of Coulanges, where I tasted and bought a few bottles from Dom Clos du Rois, also a Pinot / Cesar blend. I still have some I think, I will look up the percentages…
15% Cesar apparently
https://www.closduroi.com/english/
https://www.closduroi.com/boutique-vin/rouge/bourgogne-coulanges-cuvee-coline/
Thx for shining a light on this little one.
Great post thanks!
This is fucking fascinating, I have never heard of this. Thank you for sharing!