Marchand & Burch Villages Pinot Noir 2022

Description

The evolution of Marchand & Burch over the past decade is a fascinating sub-plot in the story of contemporary Australian wine. It marries the minds of Pascal Marchand – with his bio dynamic experience and passion for traditional techniques – and Jeff Burch; a pioneer of multi-regional grape growing in Western Australia. The collaboration compares two intriguing terroirs: Burgundy, where wine making evidence traces back 2000 years; with WA’s Great Southern, established only in the 1960s, but famed for its ancient geology. It is the wines themselves that bring substance and expression to this unique endeavour. In Australia, our winemakers led by Nic Bowen follow the Burgundian road map established by Pascal to produce Pinot Noir and Chardonnay reflecting season and place. In this way we unlock the potential of our maturing vineyard sites. In Burgundy, Pascal obtains fruit from his network of family growers in the legendary villages and vineyards of the Côte d’Or.

This wine is part of the Marchand & Burch Australian collection. Sourced from the Mount Barrow vineyard located in the eastern, elevated end of the Mount Barker subregion in the Great Southern, it is a vibrant young middle weight wine that has all the potential to evolve and integrate into a fine Pinot Noir over time. Enjoy its youth and exuberance or cellar for further pleasures and insight.

Bright, translucent ruby in the glass, this elegant and energetic Pinot Noir shines due to elevated floral and red fruited notes. Savoury earth and spice tones mingle with red cherry, raspberry, rosemary, hibiscus, vanilla, and potpourri on the nose. Soft, silky tannins gather towards the front of the palate giving way to a smooth texture and rich fruited mid-palate. A lively, lingering acidity points to this wine’s cool climate origin. Impressions of red berries and floral tones remain on the palate forming a pleasant and dry finish.

91 points, Jane Faulkner, 2024 Halliday Wine Companion “So fragrant with lavender and roses it’s perfume-like. Of course, plenty of bright red cherries and pips, red licorice and all in all, very juicy. Not a big wine even if the tannins are a little sinewy, just more time needed to settle. Still lovely now if you must drink it in its youth.”