VINTAGE 2008
“I was impressed by what I tasted...”
— Allen Meadows, BURGHOUND
“...if the quality of the 2008s I tasted is indicative of what’s to come, Marchand will soon be even better-known!”
— David Schildknecht, THE WINE ADVOCATE
“...definitely a Burgundian winemaker to watch.”
— Jane Faulkner, THE AGE
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What is lesser known is the fact that Pascal was merely 22 years old when he was entrusted to look after the vineyard and cellar work in this historical domaine and he turned it into a star domaine merely a few short years afterwards. More remarkable is the fact that he was from Quebec (Canada) and he was not even finished with his studies when he started working at Comte Armand. Clearly the Comte saw a genius in this young man, and the bottles produced during Pascal's 15-years tenure in the domaine justified the Comte's vision. The domaine's wines released during Pascal's reign prove his winemaking capabilities beyond any skeptic's doubts as they remain to be some of the most long-lived and glorious contemporary burgundies.
Being a non-native has worked to Pascal's advantage more than otherwise and today he is one of the most respected personalities in this highly insular, often hostile-to-outsiders, traditional wine region. Blessed with an acute instinct for Burgundy's highly diverse terroirs as well as being an intelligent, sensitive cellarmaster, Pascal regularly obtains the most optimal and purest expression of each of the wine he produces with ease and panache.
Pascal was in Singapore this past April and presented some of the most compelling set of 2008 burgundies during the Burghound In Asia event earlier this year: wines which were pure, intense, energetic and absolutely faithful to each vineyard's character.
So, what's the secret?
Pascal explains that he has always wanted to work on a small scale (so that he could watch over each wine personally) and to produce them as naturally as possible. This approach begins in the vineyard. As one of the earliest proponents of organic/biodynamic farming, Pascal systematically instituted organic viticulture in the mid-80s at Domaine Comte Armand. He sticks to this philosophy even as he went on to take up various subsequent appointments in Burgundy, culminating to his eponymous micro-negociant operation today, PASCAL MARCHAND. His affable personality has gained him many vigneron friends who own some of the most prestigious vineyards around Burgundy, from whom now he sources his fruits. He is undoubtedly highly influential too as he has converted many of these growers to adopt organic practices, thereby ensuring the purity of his fruit sources. He believes organic farming is one of the key foundations to maximise terroir expression and is keenly particular about the adherence to this practice for his fruit supplies.
The tasting of his wines has won us all over again, his 2008s are yet another convincing evidence that he is on an unstoppable ascendancy after his highly excellent 2007s. It is not just us who think so: the crowd who attended the Burghound In Asia masterclasses as well as the private luncheon at Iggy's last April went away completely impressed and thirsty for more. Pascal was very candid to admit that back in the 1980s and early 1990s, the approach he took veered toward higher extraction as he felt the need to present more "powerful" burgundies in order to "win" people to Burgundy. In contrast today he no longer feels that is the right thing to do. Experience has taught him how to maximise terroir expression and yet still craft wines that will evolve beautifully over the long-run by focusing on the fundamentals. He now extracts far more naturally, calling it "infusion" as opposed to extraction, and the wines successfully demonstrate it. While Pascal's wines always have that unbridled sense of latent power and wildness, today this characteristic is but an underlying tone, a subtle personality trait which supports rather than overwhelms terroir. The wines seem more effortless and pliant today, its ripeness unforced, the flavours broad and detailed while its natural intensity gives the wine shape and exceptional length. In short, Pascal is doing everything right. The wines are not only impressive: they are delicious.
ARTISAN CELLARS is proud to represent PASCAL MARCHAND and to offer a curated parcel of his remarkable and very rare Burgundy gems from vintage 2008 including his flagship wine, the exquisitely elegant Chambertin Clos de Bèze.
The prices quoted in this offer are time-limited, valid only during this pre-arrival offer for orders taken up to 31 October 2011, subject to availability of stock. Please note that quantities are limited as can be expected coming out from his tiny cellar.
Orders will be confirmed on a first-come first-served basis. The wines are estimated to arrive in Singapore's shores in January 2012 .
2008 Gevrey-Chambertin "Les Roncevie"
S$74 / 750 ml
36 BOTTLES PRE-ARRIVAL
(Only 900 bottles produced. 50-year old vines, 30% new oak, 100% whole-cluster fermentation.)
“...Marchand keeps this apart “on account of its old vines and fine selection of small-berried Pinot,” and the present wine deliciously argues his – and its – case. Notes of wild fennel and sassafras ally themselves to ripe cark cherry on the nose as well as on a silken palate underlain by fine-grained tannins, finishing with accents of chalk, cherry pit, and bittersweet herbs.” WA 88-90 points
2008 Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru "Les Cazetiers"
S$119 / 750 ml
36 BOTTLES PRE-ARRIVAL
(Less than 1,200 bottles produced. 45-year old vines, 50% new oak, 20% whole-cluster fermentation.)
“He certainly seems to have nailed the character of this site, with almost peppery as well as herbal pungency allied to exuberantly bright, fresh cherry and rhubarb; a strong undertone of chalk and crushed stone; as well as savory salinity that sets ones salivary glands pumping to accompany the wine’s formidable finish. But while the projection of flavors here is downright audacious, the texture is quite refined, incipiently silken even. Unfortunately, there are only four barriques (i.e. 100 cases) of this.” WA 91-92 points
2008 Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru "Les Suchots"
S$136 / 750 ml
36 BOTTLES PRE-ARRIVAL
(Less than 600 bottles produced.)
“New to his line-up this vintage, Marchand’s 2008 Vosne-Romanee Les Suchots – from old vines in an upper part of that site, neighboring Echezeaux – leads with scents of game, ocean spray, and star anise. These presage the complexly animal, maritime, and Asian spice aspects of a richly-textured palate that brims with dark cherry and plum. One of the mere two barrels of this beauty was new and has resulted in a slight overlay of resin and caramel notes which however fit the wine’s personality. A burley tobacco note adds to the sense of mid-palate richness and this finishes with the sort of vibratory intensity that renders so many of the best Pinots of its vintage memorable.” WA 92-93+ points
2008 Latricières-Chambertin, Grand Cru
S$193 / 750 ml
24 BOTTLES PRE-ARRIVAL
“The Marchand 2008 Latricieres-Chambertin offers aromas of sage; soy; ripe red cherry; and alkaline, saline, maritime mineral notes. The brash intensity, resinous spiciness, and combination of caramelized and tart fruit elements exhibited here put me a bit in mind of Zinfandel. Yet for all of its energy and fine retention of fruit acidity, this also evinces incipient creaminess, and its long finish displays a sort of buoyancy that among reds can in my experience only be obtained from a Burgundy cru!” WA 92-93 points
2008 Chambertin Clos de Bèze, Grand Cru
S$339 / 750 ml
18 BOTTLES PRE-ARRIVAL
(Less than 600 bottles produced. 50-years old vines, 100% new oak, 20% whole cluster fermentation.)
“...Marchand’s 2008 Chambertin Clos de Beze exhibits the site-typical scents and flavors of dark cherry, licorice, and rose petal, allied to Latakia tobacco-like smokiness, soy-like savor, and subtle suggestions of humus and peat. Rich and already texturally caressing yet at the same time buoyant, it finishes with palate-staining, mandible-tugging, vibratory intensity.” WA 93-94+ points
1. Prices are quoted in Singapore Dollars (SGD), ex-cellar Singapore, valid until 31 October 2011, on a pre-arrival basis.
2. Prices are for single bottle size 750 ML unless otherwise stated.
3. Wines will be confirmed on a first-come first-served basis, subject to availability and written confirmation.
4. Full payment must be made to secure the order.
5. This offer is non-transferable and cannot be used in conjunction with other offers and/or promotions.
6. Wines sold are not returnable.
7. The wines are estimated to arrive in January 2012.
390 Orchard Road
B1-01 Palais Renaissance
Singapore 238871
t +65 6838 0373
f +65 6836 0036
e sales@artisan-cellars.com
w www.artisan-cellars.com