13% abv, Meursault, imported by MISA Imports, Dallas, TX. Cork closure: natural. Biodynamic calendar: root day.
The Côte de Beaune village of Maranges can be considered a relative newcomer to the Bourgogne quality pyramid promoted from regional appellation to a village-level AOC with Premier Cru vineyards in just 1988, the wines in this area are near Changny and Santenay at the foot of the Côte d’Or and near the Chalonnaise. And thus the Jeannot family are fairly new to the business of vignerons as well; founded by Valérie and Philippe in 1997, their son Quentin joined the estate in 2014. Since their start, the Jeannot family have assembled 11 hectares of vines in five villages in the Côte de Beaune. Their house style is organic viticulture, destemming of all grape clusters, and gentle aging in a small percentage of new oak barrels. Their Maranges holdings are indeed old vine (vieilles vignes) with an average of 80 years of age.
Our friends at the BIVB describe the wines of Maranges (almost exclusively Pinot Noir planted in this clay and limestone terroir) as so: “fruit-laden bouquet is of blackcurrant buds, and spiced or preserved red fruits. The mouth, fresh, and tinged with liquorice, lays down a meaty foundation for peppery flavours. The area has just under 200 hectares planted. The wines in my experience, can be an impressive value for their Côte d’Or pedigree, as demonstrated below.
Tasting note: The Jeannot Maranges VV is pale ruby in color with a clean nose of medium intensity with aromas of wild strawberry, blueberry, liquorice, woodspice, cedar, charred wood, iron graphite, and wet leaves. On the palate it is dry, acid is medium+, body is medium, alcohol is medium with medium+ flavor intensity and a medium finish with flavors of cassis, cherry, smoky plum, blood orange, roasted chestnut and wood ear mushroom. This wine can drink now with some time to breathe and will be best through 2029; very good, 9.2/10.