Tasted in Bligny-lès-Beaune with Claude Maréchal, 07 November 2019.
Domaine Catherine et Claude Maréchal
6 Route de Chalon sur Saône
21200 Bligny-lès-Beaune
Tel: +33 3 80 21 44 37
Claude on 2019:
“Mythic! The harvest was certainly volume-limited, much by the frost of early April so the wines have concentration but the mid-season dryness brought richness too – as they should, we are 50% down in volume! There was also some hail in Savigny and Chorey which didn’t help!”
Claude on 2018:
“A good harvest volume, because we had a year without climate ‘accidents!’”
The wines…
The reds dark coloured but with elegant florals and super-fine textures. The whites have energy and are excellent!
2018 Bourgogne Côte d’Or ‘Gravel’
Mainly vines in the plain of Pommard looking towards Bligny – not surprisingly on lots of gravel. This bottled just before harvest.
Lots of colour. Hmm, really a depth of concentrated fruit, cassis style with some padding to the nose. Round but with a nice line and freshness. A little grain and then plenty of finishing width, almost licorice in here. Wide, faint bitters too – wait 6-12 months, but this is a Bourgogne to drink for the next 15+ years.
2018 Chorey-lès-Beaune
3 parcels blended here. Practically 2 hectares worth. Old vines here.
Deeply coloured. The nose is enveloping, darkly fruited but pure and precise. Wide, concentrated, there’s weight and extract here. A touch of tannin, but then finishing energy too. Ooh, have patience – what a concentrated but still fresh wine.
A single parcel, close to Bois Roussot and Les Chaillots, once from Prince Mérode.
Deeply coloured, once-more. This nose more overtly perfumed and full of violets – that’s such an invitation. Fine line, energy, melting, mouth-watering flavour – tannin but virtually grainless, absolutely delicious finishing. Bravo – drink from now to 2050!
Bottling for these probably at the end of the year:
2018 Auxey-Duresses
Opposite Vincent Prunier’s Le Clous – plain south facing.
Deeply coloured. A more compact and concentrated nose. Full, plenty of volume, a suggestion of toast that resembles the Chorey. A little less fineness of tannin but this is open and absolutely delicious finishing – lots of energy here. Excellent!
2018 Savigny-lès-Beaune Vieilles-Vignes
Lots of parcels assembled; some 1er cru – Liards, Planchots, Pimentières, Peuillets and more – almost 2 hectares.
Colour – of-course. Just a little more open, certainly more airy. This is silky, with über-fine tannin, faint toast in the middle. Again a super finishing flavour – more perfumed in this case.
2018 Savigny-lès-Beaune 1er Les Lavières
First vintage with this – it’s a small tank says Claude modestly…
Plenty of colour. The nose is a little tighter but there’s still some perfume escaping the glass. Volume and energy, the toast is fainter, Successive layers of fresh, acid-led, dark fruit that washes over the palate. The finish is very long, wide too, but of subtle intensity. Super…
2018 Volnay
From Grand Poissots on the limit with Brouillards
Not the deepest colour, but there’s still plenty. This is a tight nose, just faint high tones to start. Ooh, more direct, beautifully melting, mouth-watering flavour. A little more grain of tannin but what a beautiful flavour. Some tannin on the end of the tongue.
2018 Pommard La Chanière
Here’s a more open nose; dark but fine fruit – still of freshness. A little toast in the middle, a growth of tannin too – some astringency but practically no grain. Bright, wide, mouth-watering, but battling the tannin in the finish today. Wait 2 years or as long as you wish! I think excellent.
Les Blancs:
2018 Bourgogne Aligoté
Only a little sulfur added at bottling time.
Hmm, a lovely width of aroma here – citrus style. Round but flowing with freshness, a little grain of tannin in the middle. Delicious.
2018 Bourgogne Côte d’Or Cuvée Chardonnay Cuvée Antoine
Vines mainly in Bligny on a gravel soil – another wine that only saw sulfur at bottling – which for all was done in July.
Fresh – a certain concentration. This has a beautiful open delivery of fresh, palate-widening fruit. No sharp edges, indeed a subtle cushioning. A lovely part-mineral, still sweet, finish. Excellent and soo long too!
2018 Savigny-Lès-Beaune
A more punchy note of fresh citrus – I’m now expecting plenty of energy! Delivered! Mouth-filling cool fruit but with sucrosity and energy, maybe a hint of confit style. More layered but style wide and ebulliently finishing. Delicious.
And to finish:
2017 Savigny-Lès-Beaune
Ooh, now that’s a forward ripe but penetrating nose – there’s energy here – again! Broader, more mineral, more saline. There’s the ripeness of fruit that’s shown on the nose, but the width of mineral energy makes a great balance.
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