Placeholder Image
SommSelect

Domaine Sylvain Pataille, Marsannay, Clos du Roy

Burgundy, France 2013 (750mL)
$50.00
/
Shipping calculated at checkout.
Your cart is empty.
  • In stock, ready to ship
  • Inventory on the way
Fruit
Earth
Body
Tannin
Acid
Alcohol
SommSelect

Domaine Sylvain Pataille, Marsannay, Clos du Roy


If you are looking to deepen your knowledge of Marsannay before you continue reading check out Eric Asimov’s recent article in the New York Times which has some insightful information.

Just above of the fêted village of Gevrey-Chambertin and Fixin, Marsannay is perched in the northern reaches of the Côte de Nuits. The lesser-known village was granted AOC status in 1987 and although there are no premier cru vineyards classified in the appellation yet, their time is fast approaching. One such vineyard that is slated for a nod is today’s Clos du Roy, along with fifteen additional lieux-dits. A vineyard that has turned heads and bolstered the case for classification, Domaine Sylvain Pataille’s Clos du Roy boasts an ideal mid-slope aspect and soils of scree, gravel and limestone. The vineyard is rumored to have been named when the future King of France, John II of the house of Valois, purchased the walled parcel back in 1348. As a matter of fact, Marsannay was cultivated by the 7th century and was renowned for its wine well into 'la belle époque. Today, the appellation is once more on the rise, thanks to the efforts of terroir and quality-driven producers like Sylvain, but the prices are still relatively modest by Burgundian standards.   

A rockstar oenologist, Sylvain became a highly sought-after consultant to some of the biggest names in Burgundy before he established his own domaine. His first vintage was only in 2001, but he has garnered serious attention from critics and sommeliers alike in a very short amount of time. With a serious love and knowledge of terroir, Sylvain crafts his wine with organic and biodynamic principles. In the cellar he eschews sulfur almost entirely – a rarity in the climate of Burgundy. The result is a wine that is teeming with life and the distinct energy of the Côte de Nuits. This magnificent example is fermented with its natural yeasts in stainless and fiberglass then is aged in only 30-35% new oak for 12-18 months. This incredibly natural approach delivers one of the purest expressions of Pinot Noir I have ever tasted.

This wine displays a very dark ruby core with almost magenta and pink highlights on the rim, which indicate the immense concentration in the glass. The dark and spicy nose reveals aromatics of dark cherry, black plum, black raspberry and huckleberry wrapped in aromas of dark crushed black earth, damp forest, fresh wet roses and black tea. The medium-bodied, concentrated palate evolves to include additional flavors of pomegranate, a hint of blackcurrant and a bounty of pristine wild fruit wrapped inside savory, perfumed notes that finish with integrated exotic spices in the background. Thanks to the farming methods and lack of sulfur, this wine is full of life and supple energy. However, this does mean that the wine is fragile and must be kept in cool, dark conditions. To enjoy this wine now, decant for an hour and serve at 60-65 degrees in Burgundy stems. It is currently lively, layered in complexity and an absolute joy to drink although it will reach even greater heights in the next two years and should progress to nirvana on its tenth birthday. Serve this wine with Jacques Pepin’s classic duck a l’orange.
Placeholder Image
Country
France
Region
Burgundy
Sub-Region
FranceMarsannay
Soil
Limestone and Clay
Farming
Organic and Biodynamic
Blend
Pinot Noir
Alcohol
13.0
OAK
Neutral French

France

Bourgogne

Beaujolais

Enjoying the greatest wines of Beaujolais starts, as it usually does, with the lay of the land. In Beaujolais, 10 localities have been given their own AOC (Appellation of Controlled Origin) designation. They are: Saint Amour; Juliénas; Chénas; Moulin-à Vent; Fleurie; Chiroubles; Morgon; Régnié; Côte de Brouilly; and Brouilly.

Southwestern France

Bordeaux

Bordeaux surrounds two rivers, the Dordogne and Garonne, which intersect north of the city of Bordeaux to form the Gironde Estuary, which empties into the Atlantic Ocean. The region is at the 45th parallel (California’s Napa Valley is at the38th), with a mild, Atlantic-influenced climate enabling the maturation of late-ripening varieties.

Central France

Loire Valley

The Loire is France’s longest river (634 miles), originating in the southerly Cévennes Mountains, flowing north towards Paris, then curving westward and emptying into the Atlantic Ocean near Nantes. The Loire and its tributaries cover a huge swath of central France, with most of the wine appellations on an east-west stretch at47 degrees north (the same latitude as Burgundy).

Northeastern France

Alsace

Alsace, in Northeastern France, is one of the most geologically diverse wine regions in the world, with vineyards running from the foothills of theVosges Mountains down to the Rhine River Valley below.

Others We Love