Marsannay Domaine Jean-Louis Trapet rouge 2023

At the gates of Dijon, where the Côte de Nuits begins to reveal its promise, the Marsannay appellation occupies a singular position: frequently underestimated, it can deliver, in the hands of the finest winemakers, an elegance and depth that hold their own against its more celebrated neighbours. Domaine Jean-Louis Trapet is one of the most compelling demonstrations of this. Founded in 1919 in Gevrey-Chambertin, the estate now extends across 15 hectares among the finest terroirs of the Côte de Nuits, farmed biodynamically since the mid-1990s. Jean-Louis Trapet, at the helm since 1995, has made this philosophy the absolute cornerstone of his work, both in the vineyard and in the cellar. Awarded three stars by La Revue du Vin de France, the domaine stands unquestionably among Burgundy’s great references.

The Marsannay rouge is drawn from two complementary parcels: Les Grasses Têtes, planted in 1979 on calcium-rich soils, and Le Grand Poirier, whose fifty-year-old vines contribute concentration and depth. Harvesting is 100% by hand, vinification incorporates 20% whole clusters, and ageing is carried out in 500-litre demi-muids.

The 2023 vintage, generous and luminous, produces here a particularly accomplished wine. The colour is a limpid ruby with cherry highlights. The nose is highly expressive, opening on iron and blood, dark and red berries, plum, violet and freshly turned earth. On the palate, the wine is round, succulent and perfectly ripe, with a finely polished sap, a caressing texture and a bright freshness that carries the finish with grace. Rated 93 points by La Revue du Vin de France and 89–91 by Burghound, this Marsannay 2023 is best approached from 2029. Serve around 16–17°C alongside poached eggs in red wine sauce, roast chicken with mushrooms, or duck with cherries.