Here’s a pretty good explanation of how special Claude Marechal is from his Australian importer:
Claude Maréchal is a winemaker who most people have not heard about, especially outside France, despite his estate being rated at the same level as Dujac, Carillon, d’Angerville, Ponsot and Sauzet in France’s most respected wine guide - La Revue du Vin de France.
Now in his fifties and having befriended the late Henri Jayer, he follows in his mentor's footsteps using the same meticulous approach to quality in the vineyards and the cellar. Of course, he doesn't work the same exalted vineyards as Jayer did (he doesn't even have any land in the Cotes de Nuits) but his methods are the same and the results are brilliant.
His principles in the vineyards are straightforward: the vineyards are plowed, no herbicides are used, treatments are kept to a minimum and the pruning is severe to keep yields low. Vinification takes place in open wooden vats, all grapes are totally destemmed (à la Jayer), and fermentation is not induced by adding cultured yeast, so it can take a few days to start (a "natural" cold pre-maceration) using its own. New barrels are added every year for maturation, but their proportion stays very low in order to produce wines where fruit dominates. It is important to stress that there is no recipe here. Winemaking follows a general theme, but techniques may be changed from year to year to suit the conditions of the vintage.
Claude's wines are not expensive but, due to their quality, are incredibly hard to find and sold on allocation.
Burghound says:
"The quality of these wines is nothing short of phenomenal compared to the usual quality of their respective appellations."
The Burgundy report rates this wine outstanding, saying:
Lots of colour. Hmm, really a depth of concentrated fruit, cassis style with some padding to the nose. Round but with a nice line and freshness. A little grain and then plenty of finishing width, almost licorice in here. Wide, faint bitters too – wait 6-12 months, but this is a Bourgogne to drink for the next 15+ years.
