2020 Côte de Nuits

This is drawn from a couple of parcels on the south side of the commune towards Fixin and Gevrey-Chambertin. Its fruit profile is quite nervous, with an edge of cranberry and pomegranate, and some brambly, structural tannins giving it the slightly wild edge you often find in Marsannay. Lots of cracked pepper on the nose. It has body and impact.

Most of the fruit comes from the Côte de Nuits, with the majority from around Nuits itself, with the balance from the Côte de Beaune. 20% whole bunch and no new oak is the perfect combination here to let the fruit sing. It is a fresh and crunchy style of bourgogne, with enough bite to give it a vibrant length. It should drink well from a young age. And it’s an absolute bargain.

This cuvée is the main reason we started buying the wines from Marchand-Tawse. It is a winner every year. A generous, but well-judged, 60% whole bunch gives it a transparent purity, and the wine displays a tender and delicious blackcurrant fruit pastel core. The vineyard sits just below Clos St Denis, in the heart of the village, and offers up a deep and rich expression of the village. What a pity it is made in such tiny quantities.

This comes from seven parcels around the village, including La Justice, Forneaux, and Clos Prieur Bas. It is so precise and lengthy, with a vibrant cherry red fruit that seems to go far beyond what a village usually delivers. It’s one of Mark’s favourites in the cellar, and we can see why. A small, well-judged amount of whole bunch adds just a hint of lift. It is a resounding success in 2020.