Just a short jaunt off-the-beaten path in Burgundy’s Côte de Beaune lies the Maranges appellation, only granted AOC status in 1988, that boasts 100 hectares of Premier Cru vineyards in around 240 hectares of cultivated land. The quality-driven appellation with exceptional terroir has managed to remain something of a hidden secret to the masses and consequently delivers immense value for the divine nectar found in the bottle. An idyllic, rural community, full of gentle rolling vineyards and historic architecture, Maranges is home to Y. et C. Contat-Grangé. 

 

The husband-wife team, Yvon and Chantal, created Contat-Grangé back in 1981 following Yvon’s studies in Beaune for enology and viticulture. They have been farming organically since 1987 and received certification in 2011. Y. et C. Contat-Grangé are dedicated to the credo that great wine is made in the vineyards. Over the years, they have implemented integrated pest management, extensive cordon pruning, debudding and green harvesting to ensure that they produce only the most pristine fruit. As a result, their wines taste pure, unadulterated and pulsating with life and a true sense of place. The grapes, derived from classic limestone over marl soils, are hand harvested and crushed under foot. The wine is fermented with only natural yeasts and is aged for one year in neutral French oak, which allows the terroir a clear voice. If you enjoy red Burgundy but do not appreciate off aromas and are exhausted by the exorbitant prices, this is the wine for you. Floral, pure and packing with lush fruit flavors and mouth-coating richness, this wine is a rarity for the price-to-quality and will prove difficult to merely enjoy only one bottle.