Maison Chartron et Trébuchet

Maison Chartron et Trébuchet was founded in 1984 by Louis Trébuchet, manager of a wine-trading company. The business was purchased in autumn 2016 by Francois Martenot from the problematic wine businessman Vincent Sauvestre, who apparently owned the brand from 2004-2016.

The current Maison Chartron et Trébuchet presumably still specializes in producing white Burgundy wines, although reds are also on the program. The wines I tasted cover the period from 2016-2018 – i.e. some wines from the old Vincent Sauvestre regime, and some from the current ownership.

The wines delivered for tasting are of mixed quality, and while some are disappointing to say the least, others are more respectable efforts for the broad, commercial Burgundy market; what I would call wines for the larger retail trade.

It should be noted that the brand has nothing to do with the Jean Chartron estate in Puligny-Montrachet.

Tasting…

Maison Chartron et Trébuchet Pouilly-Fuisse 2018

This has a slightly bitter note of quince, with good intensity and hints of apple, pear, and a scent of honey. It could go well with lighter dishes, and the freshness is OK for the 2018 vintage.

(Drink from 2021) – Average – Tasted 04/01/2021

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Maison Chartron et Trébuchet Rully Blanc Meix Cadot 2018

Rich and a bit on the dense side, this has more character. It’s full and spicy, with a bit of quince, a honied note – and also a slight scent of acetone. There’s plenty of fruit, with a nice mid-palate. Fine salinity, yet not very precise. Serve cool.

(Drink from 2021) – Above Average – Tasted 04/01/2021

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Maison Chartron et Trébuchet Meursault 2018

This Meursault does not really show the beauty of the appellation. It’s dusty, dense, and lacking true Meursault character. I sense a high yield – perhaps slightly too high. In reality, not a bad wine, but Meursault’s character is well hidden behind the high yields and the quince notes.

(Drink from 2021) – Average – Tasted 04/01/2021

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Maison Chartron et Trébuchet Meursault Charmes 2016

What could have been – but wasn’t. From the difficult frost year of 2016, this has a strange and powerful quince note and a slightly chemical scent – not pleasant. The fruit flavours are not 100% pure. It’s seriously disappointing, but 2016 is a somewhat problematic year.

(??) – Below Average – Tasted 04/01/2021

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Maison Chartron et Trébuchet Savigny-les-Beaune Aux Clous 2018

This is dominated by oak. High yields (I presume) have robbed the fruit of energy and Savigny character. What can I say?

(Drink from 2021) – Average – Tasted 04/01/2021

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Maison Chartron et Trébuchet Fixin 2019

A cheerful, lively wine, quite energetic and vivid, with expressive red and dark fruit showing the good side of the 2019 vintage. It shows red fruit with a hint of generous Nordic berries and sous-bois. Quite charming; the 2019s are indeed lovely.

(Drink from 2025) – Good+ – Tasted 12/01/2021 😄

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Maison Chartron et Trébuchet Gevrey-Chambertin 2019

A more vivid and fruity wine with good energy and nice Gevrey typicity, this is quite enjoyable, with lovely vivacity from the 2019 vintage. A good vintage and a positive sign.

(Drink from 2025) – Good – Tasted 04/01/2021

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Maison Chartron et Trébuchet Pommard 2018

Quite intense, classic Pommard village with fine, but also a bit dense, fruit. Not truly exciting when compared to the Fixin 2019. Nevertheless, a rather typical 2018 Pommard indicating that improvements have been implemented.

Drink from 2025) – Good+ – Tasted 12/01/2021

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Maison Chartron et Trébuchet Pommard Grands Epenots 2016

Clear Pommard notes on both bouquet and palate, although the alcohol is a bit high – excusable in the vintage. While the alcohol does dominate, this is nevertheless a classic Pommard, for better or worse.

(Drink from 2030) – Good++ (87-88p) – Tasted 04/01/2021

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On the positive side

One could take the ratings above as negative, but one shouldn’t necessarily. These are commercial wines made for immediate consumption, and let me be very clear: There are much, much worse wines to be found. Most consumers don’t have a concept of how poor some wines can be.

At best, these are middle-of-the-road Burgundies with some weaknesses and minor issues, but rarely really severe problems. This is important for markets that need large volumes.

I was disappointed by the Meursault Charmes, but it came from the old ownership and a difficult year. Still, I would gladly have missed this opportunity to taste this 1er cru!

The Fixin 2019 and even the Gevrey-Chambertin 2019 do, however, show promise and improvements.

This is what you will get if you buy random Burgundies without detailed knowledge of the wines, the producers, and the area: not better or worse than average, run-of-the-mill wines.

The above statement might sound scary to some…and it is. But buying Burgundies requires skill, knowledge, and sometimes even luck. But first and foremost it requires a genuine interest in the area.