Tasted in Gevrey-Chambertin with Alexandrine Roy, 03 December 2020.

Domaine Marc Roy
8 Avenue de la Gare
21220 Gevrey-Chambertin
Tel: +33 3 80 51 81 13
More reports for Domaine Marc Roy

Like for a number in Gevrey-Chambertin, I’ve kept up with the wines of this domaine without visiting, rather by tasting the wines at the annual Roi Chambertin – but due to covid-restrictions, there was no Roi Chambertin in 2020. Time for a visit!

Alexandrine on 2020:
“Whoa! – Particular! Lots of heat. Since the start of the warmer years we have no problem of mildew, it’s oïdium that’s the problem. Fortunately, with my new tractor spray system, I had no problems and it’s very environmentally friendly too and all the inter-cep work is by hand as the vines are quite old at the domaine – but a new solution comes for that next year. But the year pushed very hard and we finished harvesting the reds in August for the very first time – the white 1st September. The old vines had a lovely leaf and allowed proper maturity with no stops – the only issue was the lower yields.”

Alexandrine on 2019:
“Flowering started early in June, practically a record but unfortunately with rain too. We had two periods of heatwave but fortunately in-between came 14mm of rain on the 14th. I was 60% down in volume in Marsannay, and that’s because there was no water – so the wild animals came to eat the grapes! Overall for the domaine down 20% – vs 25-30% down in 2020. Considering the recent warm vintages I find the balance remarkable, starting to harvest 13 September but had to cool the grapes to 14°C when they arrived in the cuverie – I don’t like extremes so don’t go much below that. The potential alcohols were also quite reasonable – though Justice is always higher, this time 14° – the rest around 13.5. The acidities are excellent and the wines taste so good – all bottled towards the end of August.”

The wines…

Always a classy range of wines chez Alexandrine and the advantage of visiting means I can taste more than the three cuvées that are allowed at the Roi Chambertin!

2019 Gevrey-Chambertin Vieilles-Vignes
80 years old now
That’s got a fine and open nose, almost elegant with darker red berry notes. Wide, faintly accented with the finest of tannin at the base. Widening, filling out the palate in the middle and finish – a wine that just keeps opening wider and wider. Very elegant Gevrey but a lovely one.

2019 Gevrey-Chambertin La Justice
A nose of more dimension, such an invitation. More incisive, more obviously structural. Wide, melting with flavour – there’s complexity here too. You could in all honesty drink this already, but this is a wine to reward your patience. Complex, faintly saline in the finish. Excellent wine!

2019 Gevrey-Chambertin Cuvée Alexandrine
The cuvée of millerandes a blend of the other vineyards.
The nose is a little tighter in the higher tones, but has a wonderful width below. Also a very precise and incisive start. Wide and energetic, mouth-watering too. It’s a different style of energy here that sets it apart from the other wines. I think that my favourite this year is still the Clos Prieur, but this is very close all the same… Excellent wine, perhaps even better with some time.

And a white:

2019 Marsannay Blanc
From Champs Perdrix, and it came in at 15°! The fermentation didn’t actually finish until March, but the result, as you will see is remarkably well balanced.
That’s a very forward nose, slightly but attractively musky. Hmm, that’s quite elegant despite the round and concentrated style. The fruit in the middle has a slightly confit style, but remains very tasty and seems packaged in a more mineral style. Saline and wide finishing. That’s very tasty – a fine Marsannay Blanc.