2017 Bachelet-Monnot Maranges 1er Cru Clos de la Boutière, Burgundy

Bachelet-Monnot owns half of this Clos, which shares a border with Santenay. Clos de la Boutière has more clay in the soil and you feel it in the added richness of the wine--it often delivers more depth, texture and seduction than La Fussière yet in 2017 it is simply finer. It comes from a single parcel of 80-year-old, massale selection vines, which obviously means more ripeness and power as well. Boutière may well derive from old French for 'end of the field', which fits as this vineyard sits on the border of Santenay, at the very end of the Les Clos Roussots vineyard. Vinified with 20% whole bunch fermentation this is, again, next level Maranges. Bright and racy, with lovey perfume and length, this is another bargain as the note below makes clear.

"The 2017 Maranges 1er Cru Clos de la Boutière reveals an appealing bouquet of cherries, candied peel, rich soil tones and a light touch of oak. On the palate, it's medium to full-bodied, deep and tensile, with a chalkier, tighter-knit profile than the more gourmand Fussière, with tangy acids and good length on the finish. Since these vines are pruned in cordon and escaped frost the last few years, yields have been relatively consistent."