This Maranges offers aromas of white and yellow peaches, enhanced by notes of bergamot tea. The refreshing palate boasts ripe yellow fruit flavours and is deliciously textured, with a lifted mineral finish.
Pablo and Vincent took over from their parents in 2007 after gaining experience in Bordeaux and Central Otago. They farm the 19-hectare estate organically and have introduced horse-drawn ploughing and larger barrels to refine the style of the wines, which has helped raise the domaine's profile. Situated just 10 kilometres from Puligny and Chassagne Montrachet, at the southern end of the Côte de Beaune, Maranges is gaining attention for the quality and affordability of its wines. The village is in the Saône-et-Loire department, something you notice as the vegetation and houses change as you drive towards the village. Domaine Chevrot is nestled in the heart of the appellation and is widely viewed as one of the leading producers.
The rare whites in the Maranges appellation, Chardonnay vines are grown on a beautiful south-facing terrace of limestone and granite gravel, on slopes with a 25% gradient. Soils here are deep but poor in nutrients. The vineyard's proximity to the river Cozanne means it benefits from a broad diurnal range, resulting in grapes that reach ideal levels of ripeness while retaining a good level of acidity. All of the domaine's vineyards are organically farmed without the use of fertilisers. Its two draft horses, Valentine and Hotesse, help work the land to control unwanted vegetation and are considered to be integral members of the Chevrot team.
The grapes were harvested early in the morning to preserve the varietal's fresh fruit characters and transported immediately to the winery. A light treading took place prior to a gentle pressing to extract only the best juice. The juice was settled for a period and then fermented in stainless-steel tanks, with indigenous yeasts, at temperatures between 15°C and 23°C for around 1 month, with malolactic fermentation allowed. The wine was then aged for a total of 15 months, 12 months in French oak (15% of which was new) and the remaining 3 months in stainless steel, before being bottled and released.
For something simple yet delicious, try it with a creamy lemon and Parmesan risotto, where the wine's minerality and freshness cut through the richness for a beautifully harmonious pairing.
