MARANGES > BOUCHARD Ainé & Fils

MARANGES 2021

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2021 2022 2023

Varietal

100% Pinot Noir.

Tasting notes

Colour: Dark ruby red dress.

Nose: Complex bouquet of black fruits with spicy notes.

Palate: A charming and structured wine with present but elegant tannins, well-balanced with powerful aromas of wild fruit, undergrowth and liquorice.

Food and wine pairing

To enjoy with poultry and red meats, especially in spicy exotic dishes to which its peppery vinosity forms a lively counterpart.

Serving suggestions

Serve ideally at a temperature of 14° to 16°C (57-60°F).

Ageing potential

4 to 6 years.

Origins

The Maranges vineyards form the link between Côte-d'Or and Saône-et-Loire. It is in perfect harmony with Santenay, with which it shares a number of highly-regarded crus. This village appellation in the south of the Côte de Beaune covers 190 hectares (177 ha for reds and 16 ha for whites), with 7 Premier Crus. It is the youngest AOC in the Côte de Beaune, having received certification for both villages and 1er Crus in 1988.

The vineyards stretch across the communes of Cheilly-lès-Maranges, Dezize-lès-Maranges and Sampigny-lès-Maranges. The hillsides do not follow the alignment of the Côte de Beaune, but they have the same origin and geological nature. A fabric of hills and varied slopes. The most common exposure is south/south-east, at an altitude of between 240 and 400 metres.

Cheilly has fairly light, stony soils. Sampigny and Dezize share the Climats of the south of Santenay: brown limestone and limestone marl.

Vinification and maturing

The grapes are harvested by hand and sorted manually on arrival at the winery. All the grapes were de-stemmed. Traditional alcoholic fermentation with a cold maceration at first (5-8 days), with natural yeast. Punching down twice a day. 15 days of fermentation to obtain free run juice and press juice blend. Then, large racking to preserve the fine lies. Maturing process and ageing 12 months in French oak 228 L. barrels.

Vintage : 2021

The 2021 vintage was a challenge for winegrowers right up until the very last day. From the frost in April, made worse by a very early start to the winegrowing season, right through to the September harvest, it was characterized by some brutal shifts in the weather. Winegrowers had to be extremely reactive and attentive. The only moment of respite came with flowering, which was ideal for fruit formation, and véraison, which was accompanied by sunshine from mid-August. In the end, hard work was rewarded with success, low volumes aside.

Aside from the low yields due to frost, and hail in June in certain parts of the Mâconnais, the grapes were sorted meticulously, both in the vines and in the winery.

Anyway, 2021 is an interesting vintage to work as it requires great technical skill and vinification must be very precise. Although fermentation was rapid, one had to pay a great deal of attention to the extraction of tannins and colour for the reds, and to the aromatic balance of the whites. The impression from the first tastings is that the musts have good aromatic potential and the sugar-acidity ratio suggests a style appreciated by fans of Bourgogne wines.