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Wine Description
The Story
On the first of November 2003, Domaine J-F Mugnier increased from 4 to 14 hectares. The Clos de la Maréchale, under the sole ownership of the Mugnier family since 1902, reverted to the Domaine when the farming contract ended after 53 years.
History
The origin of the name of this Clos is unknown. In 1855 the vineyard was known as Clos des Fourches', then Clos Maréchal' in 1892, before changing to Clos de la Maréchale' in the 20th century. Research by the historian Jean-François Bazin shows no evidence of a Marshal, or the widow of a Marshal, during the Second Empire being connected to this village. Further research is necessary. Therefore, to follow...
The vineyard
The Clos de la Maréchale has a surface of 9 hectares, 76 ares. It is the largest monopole (an appellation belonging to a single owner) in the Côte d'Or. The average age of the vines in 2009 is about 45 years old.
The vines
The Clos de la Maréchale has a surface of 9 hectares, 76 ares. It is the largest monopole (an appellation belonging to a single owner) in the Côte d'Or. The average age of the vines in 2009 is about 45 years old.
The soil
The geological stratum on which the Clos de la Maréchale is situated plunges wellbelow the surface of the soil further south, marking the end of the Côte de Nuits, only to reappear in Le Montrachet between Puligny and Chassagne. Therefore one is not surprised to find the same qualities of power and longevity in these wines.
The Wine
They are wines that always need 5 to 10 years of ageing before expressing their typically floral character : "The bouquet of the 1er crus of Premeaux is remarkable and persistent : one finds the aroma of iris mingled with raspberries. Even more so, that of white lilac".
Vintage 2019
“2019 is ‘the perfect storm’ of a vintage,” said Laurent Drouhin of top negociant house Drouhin, which owns vineyards in many parts of Burgundy. “We keep smiling because some wines will be great.” The mix included the hottest temperatures since the time of the Black Death 700 years ago (!), frost in April, rain in June, and no rain for nearly four months.
Drouhin’s harvest started on time on Sept. 13, and Laurent’s winemaking brother Frederic reports, “The first reds show an intense and beautiful color, good concentration, great balance and acidity and depth. The whites also show good richness with balance.” It’s a great year for reds, with slightly higher alcohol than usual.
The downside is very low yields. In just one April night, frost destroyed about 30% of the crop in Macon, though what’s left is making wines with good acidity and aromas.
Export company Le Serbet gathered reports from 65 producers in its portfolio, and head of marketing Peter Wasserman says the loss of grapes varies from vineyard to vineyard; in some places it may be as much as 50% to 60% lower than normal. Northern appellations such as Gevrey-Chambertin seem to have done best, down only 10%.
With less wine, you might predict even higher prices, but producers worry that this would drive away consumers.
