François Lamarche Grand Cru Echézeaux 2016

Description

“A domaine that continues to make great strides under the current generation.” The World of Fine Wine, Issue 47

“Lamarche is now a top domaine, with wines which express themselves through their subtlety rather than their power. Since 1999, and more especially since 2005, the quality has been top-notch. This is now a three star domaine.” Clive Coates MW, My Favourite Burgundies

Domaine François Lamarche are sole owners of La Grande Rue, one of the four grand cru monopoles of Vosne-Romanée (La Tâche, La Romanée and La Romanée Conti are the others). In this day and age, great Burgundy Domaines such as this are a rare find – even more exceptional because the vineyard holdings here are almost entirely made up of Grand Cru and Premier Cru parcels in Vosne/Echézeaux. Under the current generation – Nicole and Nathalie Lamarche – quality at this Domaine has skyrocketed and this is now one of the very finest sources of fragrant, supple and richly-fruited Vosne.
It’s safe to say Nicole Lamarche isn’t really concerned about ruffling a few feathers. In the ultra-conservative village of Vosne-Romanée Lamarche’s sense of fashion already has her standing out, and she also isn’t afraid to speak her mind. Perhaps this individuality is one reason Nicole Lamarche has been able to so rapidly lead her family’s Domaine back up the quality hierarchy.

In 2015, Lamarche courted some controversy by waiting to pick after the rain—after a dry season she felt her grapes needed a drink in order to be able to produce their finest quality. The results were stunning. This year she decided to eschew all new oak in the cellar, even for the grand cru wines, telling Alan Meadows, “I really am after the purity of expression with no interference.” And, sure enough, purity is what you’ll be getting in spades with this Domaine’s 2016s.

From frost-bitten yields that were on average 40 to 50% down, Lamarche and her team commenced picking September 26th with potential alcohols between 12 and 13% and “with good acidities and ripeness levels—even the seeds were ripe.” As mentioned, there was no new wood used during vinification, and Lamarche used 30% whole bunches for every wine. The goal, of course, is for Lamarche to present her terroirs on an even-keel, with as much transparency as possible. Few in Vosne-Romanée are going so far in this aim.

The Lamarche Echézeaux comes from three lieux-dits: Les Cruots ou Vignes, Blanches Clos-Saint-Denis, and Les Champs Traversins. Altogether these parcels make up about 1.32 hectares and the vines are about 30-years-old on average. Nicole Lamarche works with very low yields here, which, alongside the Domaine’s delicate extraction, results in a supremely elegant expression of this terroir. This is another sensual, silky Echézeaux from the Lamarche cousins—fabulous perfume and detail along with loads of juicy raspberry and spices. It never veers outside the confines of Larmarche’s signature of purity and elegance. Aged entirely in used oak, there’s more breadth here than the Les Chaumes—as one might expect—yet the same sense of energy and floral prettiness.

91-94 points, Allen Meadows, Burghound, Issue 69 “A beautifully layered blend is comprised by notes of a wide range of floral and spice elements that add elegance and breadth to the panoply of red berry fruit aromas. There is terrific intensity to the powerful, indeed even robust, big-bodied flavors that flex a taut muscularity on the serious, firm and youthfully austere finale. This is a big Echézeaux and one that is going to require extended bottle age, in fact 15 years may not be entirely sufficient so I would suggest not buying this in the hopes of good early drinking.” 

RRP $443   Our Price $399.99     **EXTREMELY LIMITED**