Summer seems to be the time of big tastings and events in Nuits-Saint-Georges … first the 200 celebration of Faiveley and then a wonderful perspective on the ethereal Mazis-Chambertin of Domaine-Marchand Tawse.
The Mazis-Chambertin is one of the very top wines of Marchand-Tawse bottlings, together with the very costly Musigny and the Mazoyères-Chambertin … another delightful Maume cuvée located in the south of Gevrey.
The Mazis-Chambertin was acquired with Domaine Maume in 2012, and the first full vintage of the Mazis was done in 2012 (no longer in the cellar at Machand-Tawse) …
The Maune estate was acquired when Moray Tawse joined Pascal Marchand in 2012 to ensure the financial background to buy the fine Maume estate.
Marchand-Tawse
Pascal Marchand is from Canada, but has made wines in Burgundy for more than 30 years. He founded the Marchand-Tawse estate in 2009, and the project gained momentum when Moray Tawse and his friend John Harris, both (like Pascal) from Canada, joined as financial backers and wine friends.
Marchand-Tawse is my neighbour in Nuits-Saint-Georges, and I have seen from my window that the quality improves year by year … and a wine like the Mazis-Chambertin is now a top-end Gevrey Grand Cru – and in my view, even surpassing some of the very well-known producers of this Grand Cru … definitely one of the best Mazis produced in my view.
Pascal works with Mark Fincham, who is responsible for the winemaking, and he has taken the Maume cuvées to a new level over the last 5 to 7 years. These are serious but playful wines, expressing the old Maume selection massale variant.
Marchand Tawse Mazis-Chambertin 2014
The 2014 vintage was the first available for tastings, although the 2012 and 2013 vintages were made, as was a blended 2010 Mazis partly from the Maume vineyards. The 2014 Mazis is a respectable effort … slightly old school and with the typical slightly austere fruit of the 2014 vintage. Let’s face it … the 2014 vintage is not blossoming with ripeness … and while nice, the phenolic expression is a bit limited.
(Drink from 2025) – Very Good – (90-91p)
Marchand Tawse Mazis-Chambertin 2015
The Mazis 2015 was the only slight disappointment of the tasting … lacking the expected splendour and generosity often found in the 2015 vintage. A bit more backwards and edgy on the tannins … and mainly lacking the lush generosity and vibrant phenolics found in the best 2015s … could be a slightly off bottle.
(Drink from 2027) – Very Fine – (93p) – 
Marchand Tawse Mazis-Chambertin 2016
The year of the frost is, in my book, a difficult year that rarely seduces me … But the Mazis from Marchand Tawse is a beautiful wine with fruit and complexity unfolding. Love the generosity and delicacy … there are indeed a lot of good moments to be found in this 2016.
(Drink from 2032) – Very Fine+ – (94-95p) – 
Marchand Tawse Mazis-Chambertin 2017
The 2017 has all the qualities wanted and expected from this enjoyable and forward vintage. Frais et Léger … lively and expressive with quite some oomph … giving more than expected. Not quite the delicacy and the Maume massale note I find in the later vintages … this is, anyhow, a great treat. Love the expressive style … well done, Mr. Fincham.
(Drink from 2030) – Outstanding – (94-95p) – 
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- A potential vin d´émotion - frais et léger