Wine of the Week: Domaine Chevrot, Maranges Le Croix Moines 2014

Wine of the Week or WotW is a new format on Winehog – it’s more than a tasting note and shorter than a Terroir Insight … although I got a bit carried away this time. 

The purpose is to present wines that taste good currently, preferably wines with a story to tell! The first wine out brings us to Maranges .. and introduce a vigneron that deserves a mention – I give you Domaine Chevrot, Maranges Le Croix Moines 2014.

Domaine Chevrot – Maranges

Domaine Chevrot is one of the very best estates in Maranges, they produce mainly Maranges and Santenay, and they are very much into organic viticulture and is certified organic – with the prestigious “Argriculture Biologique” certificat. 

It’s a family estate run by the two brothers Pablo and Vincent Chevrot + the rest of the family. Domaine Chevrot is very popular amongst the collegues in Burgundy who admire their work and the wines they make and. The acclaim they get from other producers is strong and persistent … so this is definitely a top estate in the southern end of Burgundy. 

I have tasted Chevrot from time to time over quite many years, and always liked the style, but the Maranges Les Croix Moines served by Vinrosen – the Danish importer of Chevrot – really made quite an impression. 

Domaine Chevrot, Maranges Le Croix Moines 2014 – the wine

The Les Croix Moines was served after the 2014 Santenay Clos Rousseau also from Chevrot and it sort of took things to another level of delicacy and to another world of impressions – it was however also matched by a 2014 grand cru.

Tasting note: Domaine Chevrot Maranges Le Croix Moines 2014

The bouquet of Le Croix Moines was bursting with refined complexity – cool red fruit – oriental spices – curry, nutmeg, ginger and even a slight delicate hint of pomegranate – very detailed and airy. On the palate very delicate and lightfooted – fine intensity and length – but the airy feel and the detailed fruit is breathtaking for this level. A very refined wine .. with a truly impressive complexity for this level .. and a beutiful drinkability. This is for pleasure and not for power and points. I’m to be honest not sure how many years this should be kept for optimum pleasure … I just know that it’s drinking beautifully already … yet I think I would keep it some years to let it unfold even more complexity.

(Drink From 2022) – Very Good (88 – 90p) – Tasted 27/10/2016

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To get a benchemark the Maranges was matched with the Camille Giroud, Clos de la Roche 2014 … and while the Clos de la Roche clealy is the bigger and better wine – lots of depth .. the Le Croix Moines however still managed to stand its ground with it’s delicate complexity even in this context … that is indeed impressive and a tribute to this Maranges terroir.

I’m not suggesting that Le Croix Moines is the better wine, but at the fraction of the cost it should be perfect for wine bars and by the glass in restaurants … for the pleasure of guests … and to unsettle the label drinker … who struggle to make it past the Corton hill on the way down south.

Maranges Le Croix Moines – the terroir

I rarely visit the terroirs of Maranges – so lets start to map Maranges – it’s south of Santenay .. i.e. south of Chassagne and Puligny. Maranges is quite complex as there are several villages and areas … not really making it easy to sell and market this appellation in my view.

Domaine Chevrot is located in CHEILLY-les-MARANGES – there is another village called DEZIZE-les-MARANGES located to the west, and lastly SAMPIGNY-les-MARANGES. 

The vineyard Le Croix Moines is located on the border to Dezize-les-Maranges inside the 1er cru la Fussiére – see below, the vineyard is located in the top right corner.

The vineyard is quite steep with a 20% incline and it’s located south/southwest facing at approximately 370 meters altitude. The soil is stony limestone scree with some blue and black marl. 

As the appellation is very new the names are not yet included in the cadastre maps, and it’s therefore difficult to find the exact location of the plots.

Pablo Chevrot has however been very helpfull .. so here we perhaps have the first detailed map of the plots of Maranges Le Croix Moines .. this is almost breaking news.

The full area of the Maranges Le Croix Moines is according to the sign on the photo 1.250 ha, and the Domaine Chevrot plot shown on the map is 0.1856 ha .. so a quite small production of this delightful wine. Please note Le Croix Moines is the vineyar shown in the top of the photo below.

I will try to explore a bit further in a separate article, as I will try to get some further info from Maison Camille Giroud .. as I find this a very interesting terroir – stay tuned.