2017 | Château de la Maltroye

Name: 2017, Château de la Maltroye, Chassagne-Montrachet, Clos du Château, Premier Cru
Brand: Thienpont Wine
SKU: 2017283-00750
Price: 60.00 EUR
Availability: InStock

Chassagne-Montrachet, Clos du Château, Premier Cru

This is a lovely red wine from Jean-Pierre Cournut from his monopole premier cru vineyard situated within the estate which is divided 50/50 into red and white grapes. On the nose it is very aromatic with fresh, pure flavours of soft berried fruit and cherries. It has such silkiness and sweetness that it is easy to overlook the depth here. Vibrant with aromas of sloes and violets underlain with spicy notes, this is a wine which will take two years of so to be ready to drink but will be very rewarding. It is delicious.

Drink from 2023 till 2035

About

SKU 2017283-00750

Vintage 2017

Country France

Region Bourgogne

Château Château de la Maltroye

Appellation Chassagne-Montrachet

Cuvee Clos du Château

Classification Premier Cru

Color Red

Volume 0,75l

Grape Pinot Noir

Producer Jean-Pierre Cournut

Alcohol 13%

The story

Château

Château de la Maltroye

Founded in 1941, this family owned domain is now in the hands of Jean-Pierre Cournut, the third generation. He traded in a career in the aeronautical business to return to the family home in Chassagne Montrachet in 1993 when his father fell ill.
The château itself is found near the top of the village of Chassagne. Built on the ruins of a15th-century chateau, the distinctive 18th-century mansion with diamond-patterned glazed tiles has been restored from top to bottom by Jean-Pierre. The impressive vaulted cellars date from the 15th century original building.

To illustrate how complicated this part of Burgundy can be, Jean-Pierre leads visitors to the back of the house where the vines slope down to the main road. The vineyard is in the climat of the Maltroie 1er Cru and comprises three parts: Maltroie, Maltroie Crêtes and the walled Clos de la Maltroye named after the chateau; three different appellations; all planted with both red and white grapes. Jean-Pierre Cournut is both owner and winemaker.

Maltroye is one of the largest domains in Chassagne with 15 hectares of land, 13 of which are in Chassagne and 2 are in Santenay, with 70% of the production comprising Premier Cru wine. Around 70,000 bottles are produced each year (60% Chardonnay and 40% Pinot Noir). The jewel of the domain is the Clos de Chateau, a monopole comprising 1½ hectares of Chardonnay and 1 ½ hectares of Pinot Noir. Our selection

Grape

Pinot Noir

Pinot Noir is THE red grape variety of Burgundy just as Cabernet Sauvignon is indelibly linked to Bordeaux.   Sometimes called “the heartbreak grape”, Pinot Noir can be incredibly sensitive and difficult to grow due to its thin skins and its susceptibility to rot. It needs a cool climate to bring out the pure, elegant aromas and to stop it becoming overripe and jammy and it requires delicate handling by the winemaker. However, all efforts are largely repaid by Pinot Noir’s amazing ability to reflect the soils in which it is grown making it the perfect grape for Burgundy’s patchwork quilt of different crus and terroirs in the Côte d’Or.

Pinot Noir has fewer phenols, than richer grapes such as Cabernet, which explains the often-lighter colour and softer tannin structure of the wines. Fresh acidity and red berry notes are typical. The top wines produced from Pinot Noir have a uniquely complex range of aromas ranging from red berries, cherries, wild strawberries, floral notes, aromatic herbs, undergrowth, tea and mushrooms.   If Cabernet is about power, Pinot Noir is about finesse.

Pinot Noir is an ancient grape variety and is therefore prone to mutation. This not only creates different clones but also completely new grape varieties. Like Pinot Blanc, for example or pink-skinned Pinot Gris - both derived from Pinot Noir. A grower has the choice of dozens of clones when planting a new vineyard.
During the 1950s big-berried clones giving large yields were popular, such as the “Pinot Droit” of Burgundy. These made very fruity wines but lacked structure. The “Dijon” clones have small berries and are grown for top-quality wines all over the world, particularly in California.

There is more to Pinot Noir than still wine since it is also a very important part of the Champagne blend of grapes and other great sparkling wines produced throughout the world.   If Burgundy is the cradle of Pinot Noir and its wines are still seen as a stylistic paradigm, impressive Pinot Noirs are now being produced in cool climates throughout the world: in Switzerland, Italy and Germany in Europe and to great success in the Otago and Marlborough regions of New Zealand, the Rio Negro in Argentine’s Patagonia, on the Sonoma Coast in California and in Oregon. Our selection