It’s always a privilege to meet my vigneron neighbour in Nuits-Saint-Georges, as the Tawse winery is located in my backyard.
Pascal Marchand is one of the most knowledgeable winegrowers in Burgundy, and it’s a treat to hear his views, which are based on vast knowledge and long experience. This is how we learn.
Pascal is a tremendous winemaker, and even with bought grapes, he produces wines of impressive quality. When we reach the top domaine wines the quality level rises further.
And let’s not forget, Pascal has great help from his co-winemaker Mark Fincham, a very capable vigneron himself. Furthermore winemaker Thomas Dinel is a part of the team …
The qualities of the Marchand-Tawse estate(s)
The main quality of the wines made by and under Pascal Marchand is drinkability: They drink well and bring pleasure. These are the basic, but necessary, qualities of a vin d’émotion.
Pascal Marchand can take negociant wines – the terroirs, the grapes – and reveal their qualities like few others. Some wines have emotional characteristics, others do not. But if the potential is there, chances are the team at Marchand-Tawse will find it.
The 2021s chez Marchand-Tawse
The 2021s showed very well here, although quite differently from the more powerful 2020s. I asked to taste only 30 samples, as I find that tasting more than that overwhelms my palate.
Marchand-Tawse Bourgogne Côte d’Or 2021
The Bourgogne Cote d’Or is a delightful wine; 60% comes from the Cote de Nuits. It shows good concentration, with 10% whole clusters spicing things up (half the amount used in 2020). It’s a big cuvee, with 10,000 bottles made, and it’s drinking very well for this level. I like the freshness of the ’21, and its purity indicates good sorting.
(Drink From 2023) – Good (85-86p) – tasted 08/11/2022
Marchand-Tawse Côte de Nuits Villages 2021
From the core terroirs of Cote de Nuits Villages in Corgoloin, this uses 30%-40% whole clusters. I love the energetic stride of the 2021s – vivid and expressive. This is a delightful cuvee (5,700 bottles made) with good hedonistic qualities.
(Drink From 2026) – Very Good (87-88p) – tasted 08/11/2022
Marchand-Tawse Marsannay 2021
This comes mainly from Les Longeroies and is somewhat on the darker side. For me, this would have worked better with somewhat lighter extraction, as this could have avoided some of the darker notes. Not too bad though.
(Drink From 2026) – Good (87p) – tasted 08/11/2022
Domaine Tawse Beaune 1er Cru Clos du Roi 2021
The Clos du Roi is made with 15% whole clusters, and while it’s quite forward and vivid, it perhaps lacks the ultimate oomph and depth. All things being equal, the Côte de Nuits showed better in 2021, with the Beaune wines coming in second and Pommard/Volnay being more variable.
(Drink From 2030) – Very Good+ (89-90p) – tasted 08/11/2022
Domaine Tawse Savigny-les-Beaune 1er Cru Les Lavieres 2021
The Savigny Lavieres has lively fruit with the silkiness of 80-year-old vines. With 20% whole clusters and 25% new oak, this is more lively and vivid. It shows good tension and energy, and is quite an emotional wine.
(Drink From 2030) – Very Good+ (90p) – tasted 08/11/2022 – 
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- A true vin d’émotion – a Burgundy of passion
- A truly hedonistic wine – lively and enjoyable
- A Vin Vif - fresh, energetic and with a light appearance
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