Visit Domaine Marthe Henry Boillot – tasting the 2017s and 2018s

One of the highlights of the tastings in 2018 was the visit at Domaine Marthe Henry Boillot in Meursault … tremendous wines and very fine promise indeed..

I was very enthusiastic after tasting the 2017s from cask in June … so expectations were high at our the February 2019 tasting.

As explained in the June article .. this is a new estate – as new as an estate can be … the labels are not yet fully designed or printed for that matter, and the 2017s is the first vintage.

Marthe Henry Boillot is the creator of the charming wines tasted – and she is making wine at her grandfathers old estate in Meursault – with grapes acquired from good friends.

A bit of facts about Marthe Henry Boillot: Marthe was born in Paris, but she originates from a vigneron family in Bourgogne, where her grandfather, Pierre Boillot, had an estate in Meursault – see the longer background story about Marthe Henry Boillot here.

A bit about the wines

What is special about the wines from Marthe Henry Boillot? The wines are vinified without sulphur – i.e. vinification without sulphur but the wines are bottled with sulphur. The wines are therefore what I would call low on sulphur – or protected by sulphur – but without having a large influence from SO2.

The 2017s here are charming, vivid and enjoyable, hence a fine year to start, and while good grapes will bring you a long way, it seems like Marthe have a true talent to unfold the elegant, airy and effortless qualities of the vintage.

Vinification without sulphur does seem to free the inner detail of the wines, and unfolds the juicy energy of the fruit – without having the slight compression of the mid-palate fruit … if this does give any meaning.

The wines here are airy and fruity, with an effortless balance and a lovely purity.

The bottled 2017s from Domaine Marthe Henry Boillot

The first 2017s were bottled in January 2019 and the rest were bottles in March 2019 (after my latest visit).

We had three 2017s to taste bottled – and I must say that the promise they showed from cask is fullfilled.

Marthe Henry Boillot, Bourgogne Chardonnay 2017

The first wine is the lesser of the Bourgogne Blancs that comes from a plot on the upper side of the Meursault village. This has traveled well from cask to bottle – still a lovely detailed fruit and a very good intensity for this level. It’s airy and vivid with a lovely energy and purity. A truly lovely wine – although perhaps not matching the Bourgogne Monatine.

(Drink from 2019) – Good – (86 – 87p) – Tasted 13/02/2019

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Marthe Henry Boillot, Meursault Sous La Velle 2017

The Meursault village Sous La Velle, is a tremendous village in the making. The fruit is vivid – lively and detailed – with a quite unique effortless airy balance. Lovely level of details with an airy mid-palate fruit. Very elegant with a refined expression of details. This does deserve a Winehog Award.

(Drink from 2025) – Very Good+ – (90 – 92p) – Tasted 13/02/2019
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Marthe Henry Boillot, Pinot Noir 2017

The Bourgogne Rouge is made from 100% whole cluster and vinified without sulphur. From bottle it’s expressive and detailed – quite open and vivacious – with plenty of red and forward red fruit. A lovely and charming wine at this level – I do like the 2017s

(Drink from 2019) – Good+ – (85 – 87p) – Tasted 13/02/2019

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I remain very impressed by the wines made by Marthe Henry Boillot. Great to see that the bottling maintained the fine quality of the first 2017s.

I’m looking forward to taste the remaining 2017s from bottle.

The 2018s from Marthe Henry Boillot

As mentioned in other articles I find it too detailed and premature to comment in detail on the individual 2018s – its very early and the vintage is in my view quite difficult to evaluate.