Marsannay

This vineyard within Dijon city limits has a great history and should really be classified at village level. The wine usually takes some time to mature. The 2013 is dense purple in colour, with a crunchy fruit on the nose and the potential to deliver a great deal more. There is an impressive weight of dark fruit on the palate. 
Jasper Morris, MW - Wine Buyer

Laurent reports a difficult start to the season, with mildew pressure, while the flowering went better in the late sectors than the earlier ones. A good, healthy crop though, so Laurent was able to use some whole bunch fermentation. Rich fruit but high acidity is the hallmark of the year, he thinks. The harvest began with Clos du Chapitre on 4th October and finished by the 12th.

Lovely, glowing, fresh, purple colour; this has a fabulous cherry and raspberry nose, clear pure fruit. With a little structure to keep it honest, this is otherwise very easy and appealing, with a nice touch of freshening acidity. Compelling at this price.

“Those who did the work in the vineyards will find it paid off in 2014”, opines Laurent Fournier. There is no problem with concentration if the yields were reasonable. He went through the vineyards twice, at the end of August and again just before picking, to remove any bunches he was not happy with. Even then he discarded two small plots of Clos du Roy so as to ensure that what made it to barrel, and then bottle, was first-rate. As indeed it is.

This is the domaine’s blended Marsannay, a lovely, energetic expression of the appellation. Beautiful, bright fruit on the nose, dancing and energetic on the palate. Laurent Fournier is so good at harnessing the vibrancy of the fruit. 
Jasper Morris, MW - Wine Buyer

Laurent reports a difficult start to the season, with mildew pressure, while the flowering went better in the late sectors than the earlier ones. A good, healthy crop though, so Laurent was able to use some whole bunch fermentation. Rich fruit but high acidity is the hallmark of the year, he thinks. The harvest began with Clos du Chapitre on 4th October and finished by the 12th.

From 25-to- 30-year-old vines grown on hard limestone, calcaire de Premeaux. Good brisk purple in colour with an attractive and flesh-filled nose, lovely dancing fruit and good minerals in the background. Altogether a lovely example. 
Jasper Morris, MW - Wine Buyer

This is our first vintage with Domaine Bart, who makes wines of lovely understated grace and elegance. They had decent yields in 2013, just 10% below a full crop. Overall they have good colour and acidity with a fresh and cheerful fruit.

Marsannay, Cuvée St Urbain is a blend from various sites. It shows a fine midpurple colour, with dense rich fruit on the nose with some dark notes. Elegant and lively, the fruit spreads out very well across the palate, silky and delicious.
Jasper Morris MW, Burgundy Wine Director

One of the brightest talents in the northern Côte de Nuits is Laurent Fournier who runs the estate which carries his father’s name, as well as being the man in charge of the dossier for defining some Premier Cru vineyards in Marsannay. We have been hugely impressed with his wines for several years and are now offering them En Primeur for the first time. There is a quality of fruit here which fully reflects the joys of the Côte de Nuits, yet at rather more affordable prices.

We nearly described this as Premier Cru, but that would be a little in advance of its time. Clos du Roy is a top candidate though, with a fine, bright purple colour and lots of energy, from a low yield in 2013. Very attractive perfumed pinot nose with some dark cherries and a little touch of oak in support. Overall it is harmonious, long and exciting.
Jasper Morris, MW - Wine Buyer

Laurent reports a difficult start to the season, with mildew pressure, while the flowering went better in the late sectors than the earlier ones. A good, healthy crop though, so Laurent was able to use some whole bunch fermentation. Rich fruit but high acidity is the hallmark of the year, he thinks. The harvest began with Clos du Chapitre on 4th October and finished by the 12th.

Marsannay, situated at the northern end of the Côte de Nuits, has a reputation for producing rosé wines, and has often been overlooked as a quality source of red and white wines. In recent years however, a small band of serious and dedicated vignerons has set about raising quality levels and putting the village on the map. One of the most influential members of this group is Laurent Fournier, a dynamic and charismatic young winemaker who is helping to lead the fight to have the top vineyards classified as Premier Cru.

The Clos du Roy is one of the top vineyard sites of Marsannay, and this wine is in its optimum drinking window now, displaying aromas of apricot and toast, with a lovely finish of stem ginger and cleansing lime juice. 

Brilliant purple in colour, with a hugely seductive nose of dark red fruit and violets. Of all their single vineyard wines, this has the most stuffing without losing elegance. Marsannay, Le Clos du Roy has a beautiful finish with well integrated tannins.
Jasper Morris MW, Burgundy Wine Director

One of the brightest talents in the northern Côte de Nuits is Laurent Fournier who runs the estate which carries his father’s name, as well as being the man in charge of the dossier for defining some Premier Cru vineyards in Marsannay. We have been hugely impressed with his wines for several years and are now offering them En Primeur for the first time. There is a quality of fruit here which fully reflects the joys of the Côte de Nuits, yet at rather more affordable prices.

This is an assemblage of village vineyards and younger (but not young) vines of the hoped-for, future Premiers Crus. With lively raspberry, cherry and alpine strawberry notes, the wine has a silky texture and fine, long finish. Drink 2018-2023.
Jasper Morris MW, Wine Buyer

Laurent Fournier has made beautiful wines in 2015, keeping him cheerful during the trickier 2016 growing season. He began with his whites on 8th September before attacking the reds, finishing by 16th September. There was no need for sorting the completely healthy grapes nor for extraction because all came out naturally. The wines have been matured in a mix of bigger and normal-sized barrels. There is also an excellent Bourgogne Rouge Le Chapitre.