Maranges 1er Cru Clos Roussots (2014)

About this wine

This Premier Cru Pinot Noir from Maranges Clos Roussots shows a deep ruby color and an inviting nose of blackberries, red cherries and gentle baking spice, with touches of truffle and liquorice drawn from its time in oak. On the palate the 2014 vintage gives fresh acidity that lifts the ripe fruit, so flavors of dark berries, cherry and plum feel bright rather than heavy, and notes of forest undergrowth and subtle game add complexity. Tannins are fine and well knit, giving the wine a smooth texture that still has enough grip to frame the fruit. Clos Roussots is a named vineyard on the lower slopes of Mont de Sene at the southern tip of the Cote de Beaune, where brown limestone soils help produce reds that balance richness with tension. Like many Maranges wines it is fermented traditionally and aged in small barrels, some of them new, which adds gentle spice and length to the finish without masking the character of the site.

About the grape

Pinot Noir is a very old Burgundian grape that likely originated in the vineyards around the Côte de Nuits and Côte de Beaune and was already documented in the Middle Ages as a key red variety in this region. In Maranges and particularly in the Clos Roussots Premier Cru climat the grape is planted on brown limestone and marl soils on the lower slopes of Mont de Sène with a south east exposure which helps it ripen fully in this cooler southern tip of the Côte de Beaune. For this Nicolas Potel Maranges Clos Roussots the Pinot Noir is typically trained in Guyot with relatively low yields and hand harvesting to keep bunches intact before careful sorting in the cellar. The grape is then vinified in the classic Burgundy style with destemming for most of the fruit a long maceration in open tanks and maturation in small oak barrels which is intended to express both the fine texture of Pinot Noir and the particular character of the Clos Roussots site.

Quick facts

• 🕵️ The Clos Roussots vineyard has a name with three possible stories, it might refer to red haired locals, to the russet color of the soil, or even to a Latin word for a cleared place, so your bottle comes with a built in mystery
• 🦪 Your Maranges Premier Cru Pinot Noir grows on the lower slopes of Mont de Sene called Trois Croix, where Jurassic rocks are full of ancient marine fossils, so each sip is a tiny time trip to a prehistoric seabed
• 🧭 Clos Roussots is one of only seven Premier Cru vineyards in Maranges, and Maranges itself became a separate communal appellation only in 1989, making this wine part of one of the youngest official villages in the Cote de Beaune
• 🍒 The 2014 vintage in Burgundy gave elegant cool fruited wines, so this Nicolas Potel Maranges now shows a mix of bright cherry and more mature notes of forest floor and spice, like a Pinot Noir that has just stepped from youth into early adulthood
• 🌍 Nicolas Potel built his reputation as a globe trotting Burgundy winemaker obsessed with old vine parcels and gentle cellar work, so this modest looking Maranges bottling is crafted with the same terroir focused philosophy as far more famous Grand Cru wines

Palate profile

Producer

Maison Nicolas Potel, established in 1997 in Nuits-Saint-Georges, France, is a renowned négociant house specializing in Burgundy wines. Founded by Nicolas Potel, son of esteemed winemaker Gérard Potel, the maison quickly gained acclaim for producing wines that authentically express the terroir of Burgundy. In 2005, the winery was sold to the Cottin brothers, owners of Labouré-Roi, with Nicolas Potel remaining involved until 2009. Today, Maison Nicolas Potel continues to craft wines from prestigious vineyards across the Côte de Nuits and Côte de Beaune, maintaining a commitment to quality and tradition.