Sarah Marsh 2015
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Wines

Beaune 1er cru Les Teurons : This is a 0.27-hectare parcel. Bas Les Teurons, but no one calls it this. There was no hail and yet they only made 2 barrels. "It was because the berries were so small and the juice to fruit ratio was so low. We had a half production." Deep and generous red fruits on the nose. It is rich and juicy on the attack. It is full, layered and quite spicy. The tannins are ripe, rich and quite firm. Good vigour on the finish. This is 100% destemmed. I find the tannins make the balance with the sweet fruit, rather than acidity. A fruity and firmly structured wine. Score 88/89. From 2020


Beaune 1er cru Champs Pimont : 0.63 hectares and just 5 barrels, so half quantity. This was acquired in 2011, but they did not make it in 2012, 2013, and 2014 because of the hail. "I love this terroir," says Mark. "It strikes the middle balance between Savigny and Pommard." Bright, lively red fruit aroma. On the strike too, it has good energy. It pounces across the palate. Surprisingly finely textured, succulent with ripe summer fruits and plenty of zest on the finish. It is long and straight and has tension. I like its definition and edges. Score 91. From 2020


Volnay 1er cru En Carelles : 0.35 hectares. Inviting aromatics of a strawberry field on a warm summer's day. Deep and juicy on the front, rounded and becoming and sumptuous full at the centre. Lovely concentration and soft tannins. Just nicely balanced. 25% new oak on the four barrels. It has lovely typicity. Very seductive. Score 89. From 2019/20


Volnay 1er cru Clos de La Chapelle monopole :Made 5 barrels aged in a total of 25% new oak. All destemmed. "We lost about 50% of the crop due to the heat; it has a warmer microclimate - as much as 1 degree - so in a year like 2015 in July when it was so hot, it respired more of the juice. This has a ripe, floral, scented aroma. Sumptuous attack. Soft, full and rounded. Scented and rich and yet has enough energy and freshness to balance. It is lively at the end with an appetising hint of white pepper. Such appealing aromatics across the palate. Score 91/92. From 2019/20


Volnay 1er cru Taillepieds :This is 0.47 hectares but 60% has suffered from very low yields. Mark remarks, "the vine material was not thriving, so in 2015 we pulled up 60% of this vineyard. We had 4 barrels in 2015, lower because of these vines." It will lie fallow for a year and Mark will plant with a selection massale from Jean-Pierre de Smet, formerly at L'Arlot where he developed a selection massale. Mark is also making his own selection of plants from Clos de La Chapelle. Upright aroma. High floral note on the attack. It is elegant, pure and straight. Slightly strict. Excellent tension and focus and channeled onto the finish. Plentiful fruit, but so neatly compact. I like the intensity, length - the cut on the finish. Score 92. From 21/22


Pommard 1er cru Chanlins vieilles vignes : Steep slope 80-year-old vines with lots of limestone and good drainage. Planted in 1930 part of the Louis Boillot purchase. "Louis Boillot thinks these were the first vines planted after phylloxera," says Mark. On the border of the two villages. Pure and lifted aroma. Swift, straight, and focused palate. It has an aromatic intensity, a salty, purity, and a notable delicacy on the finish. Ripe aromatics on the palate, yet tension with the pinch of salty limestone at the end. Score 94. From 2022


Pommard 1er cru Grands Epenots :3 barrels from 0.2 hectares. Spicy aroma. This is sweet and succulent. Very rich and compact. Alluring, dark, bitter chocolate notes. It is ripe, but cold. I like the cool savory minerality here, which cuts through the ripe fruit. Long finish... both cold and 'sweet'. Seductive. I thought it might have some whole bunch, but it did not. Score 94. From 2021.


Corton Les Rognet Grand Cru : 0.3 hectares and 4 barrels. 25% new oak. Abundance of ripe forest fruit and red plum. Juicy, full-bodied and sumptuously rich. A supple but muscular palate. Chunky smooth tannins and a powerful burly finish. Score 90. From 2021*


Corton Bressandes Grand Cru : 0.2 hectares and 2 barrels. 50% new oak. Given the ripe vintage, this is really rather a discreet wine. Perfumed, hints of wild strawberry. It's generous but so silky, elegant and rippling. Fine tannins. This shows a delicate touch for Corton with no lack of intensity and energy... all underscored with a light, talcy minerality. I do like this. Score 95. From 2024