Wine Article
2011 Maison Ilan Mazoyères-Chambertin
Last edited on 1/27/2012 by Chuck Miller
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From Ray Walker:
2011 Mazoyères-Chambertin Grand Cru (12.45% alc)
Estimated production: 5.5 barrels
Mazoyères-Chambertin has a bit of a mixed reputation to say the least. This reputation is however more related to ‘recent’ assumptions in the last 80 or so years than it is to outright quality. The truth is that Mazoyères was thought to be on the same qualitative level as the lower section of Charmes-Chambertin (Charmes Bas). In recent times, it is fashionable (and legal, which further complicates the real reputation of this vineyard) for producers to label their wines from this vineyard as Charmes-Chambertin. In this regard, it is difficult to know the real origins of a producer’s Charmes-Chambertin. We understand this to be a completely different terroir from those of Charmes Hauts and Charmes Bas, so we have taken the less commercially minded route by labeling ours with the original name.
More so than most vineyards, the section of Mazoyères that is sourced from is of great importance as part of the vineyard slips down to the Route Nationale 74. We source our Mazoyères from next to the Route de Grands Crus, literally on the other side of the road from Latricières-Chambertin. The vineyard has a slight slope with loads of iron rich clay and tiny slivers of limestone. The grapes were harvested on September 8th.
2011 Mazoyères-Chambertin Grand Cru (12.45% alc)
Estimated production: 5.5 barrels
Mazoyères-Chambertin has a bit of a mixed reputation to say the least. This reputation is however more related to ‘recent’ assumptions in the last 80 or so years than it is to outright quality. The truth is that Mazoyères was thought to be on the same qualitative level as the lower section of Charmes-Chambertin (Charmes Bas). In recent times, it is fashionable (and legal, which further complicates the real reputation of this vineyard) for producers to label their wines from this vineyard as Charmes-Chambertin. In this regard, it is difficult to know the real origins of a producer’s Charmes-Chambertin. We understand this to be a completely different terroir from those of Charmes Hauts and Charmes Bas, so we have taken the less commercially minded route by labeling ours with the original name.
More so than most vineyards, the section of Mazoyères that is sourced from is of great importance as part of the vineyard slips down to the Route Nationale 74. We source our Mazoyères from next to the Route de Grands Crus, literally on the other side of the road from Latricières-Chambertin. The vineyard has a slight slope with loads of iron rich clay and tiny slivers of limestone. The grapes were harvested on September 8th.