Visit Domaine Marc Roy – tasting of the 2018 vintage

Domaine Marc Roy is one of my favourite visits of the year, as the wines are always truly lovely, and they are still rather affordable. Bottom line: Visiting Alexandrine and her farther is always a treat, as they are lovely people.

I rarely comment about prices, as we all know that grand cru and even 1er crus these days are expensive. Therefore I do like to visit an estate where even I can afford to buy one bottle of the most expensive wine.

I understand why prices are skyrocketing, however producers like Alexandrine Roy demonstrate how much pleasure one can get from a village terroir in Gevrey Chambertin.

A bit of history about the Marc Roy estate

Alexandrine is the fourth generation at the domaine, and she is running the estate with her father, Marc Roy, who is still very active in the vineyards.

They may only produce village wines, but nevertheless this is one of my favourite estates in Burgundy and underlines that even serious collectors should be able to find great pleasure from a village-level wine.

Alexandrine made her debut as winemaker with the 2003 vintage, and has over the years refined her wines to be some of the most vibrant and delicate Gevrey village wines made today.

I was blown away the first time I tasted her wines, and my tasting each year just confirms my passion for them.

Alexandrine makes four village reds from Gevrey and a Marsannay blanc. All are magnificent in their own way and style. They are all pure, airy and intense, but still quite light-footed and filigreed for these appellations.

Apart from the Gevrey estate, Alexandrine work as a winemaker in Oregon, at Phelps Creek, and this does perhaps have an influence on the quality of the Domaine Marc Roy wines in 2018.

2018 was a hot year, and one can find very solar wines in this vintage. But the Marc Roy 2018s are beautifully balanced, with Alexandrine attributing this to her experience working in other climates (also Australia, New Zealand and Bandol), and not just the home turf in Burgundy.

This could well be correct: The Marc Roy wines in 2018 are truly beautiful – gorgeously hedonistic with an effortless presentation of balanced fruit. Yes, it’s slightly hot year, yet the wines here have maintained a sufficient coolness. Chapeau!!!

Tasting of the 2018s from Domaine March Roy

Like me, you must know the wines here. Or should I say: You should know these wines!!

Domaine Marc Roy, Marsannay Blanc 2018

The 2018 Marsannay Blanc is showing remarkable freshness for this hot year. As always, the nose offers delicate, cool fruit with hints of exotic orchard fruits – lovely white peach – and furthermore a good mineral backbone. I like the white Marsannays, and they tend to support the rich vintages very well. The Domaine Marc Roy plot is in the Marsannay Les Champs Perdrix located in the southern end of Couchey,  at the top of the slope.

(Drink from 2022) – Good+ (87 – 88p) – Tasted 20/05/2019 from CASK

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Domaine Marc Roy, Gevrey Chambertin Vieilles Vignes 2018

The Gevrey Vieilles Vigne is classic: 80-year-old vines, cool and vivid for the vintage. It has a slight hint of iron from the red clay soil, but is still airy and vivacious with lovely mid-palate fruit. A gorgeous, hedonistic village with plenty of fruit, but still elegant and light-footed.

(Drink from 2026) – Very Good (89 – 90p) – Tasted 20/05/2019 from CASK

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Domaine Marc Roy, Gevrey Chambertin La Justice 2018

La Justice is the vineyard located just behind the estate. This is a somewhat more expressive wine: lovely and effortless fruit, red and dark cherries are twinkling in the bouquet – a delightful fruity nose. Fruit fresh – hints of pomegranate, red and black currant. It has delightful freshness with a lovely saline minerality … a hedonistic treat!

(Drink from 2026) – Very Good+ (88 – 90p) – Tasted 20/05/2019 from CASK

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Domaine Marc Roy, Gevrey Chambertin Clos Prieur 2018

The Clos Prieur is showing even better – hard to believe! – so intense and seductive. Again this year I sense quite a lot of millerandage berries, and get vivid notes of pomegranate and red currant. The fruit is fresh, intense and deep, with a playful effortless feel. A wine of delightful pleasure and joy.

(Drink from 2028) – Very Good+ (90 – 91p) – Tasted 20/05/2019 from CASK