Domaine Jean-Marc J.M. Boillot Macon-Cruzille 2023

Domaine Jean-Marc J.M. Boillot Macon-Cruzille

Region: Burgundy, France

Vintage: 2023

Bottle size: 75cl

Grape: Gamay

ABV: 13%

Ruby colour gives way to a clean, precise and vibrant fresh strawberry fruit on the nose. It is nicely lifted on the palate with grainy tannins, balanced acidity and the same precise and clearly defined fruit it displayed on the nose.

The fruit for this wine is sourced from vineyards planted in 2000 located just north of Lugny in the Mâcon-Cruzille region, at an altitude of 310 metres above sea level on limestone and silty-clay soil. The cooler temperatures and consequent slower ripening process found at this altitude allow grapes to retain their acidity while the type of soil provides both minerality and structure to the wine.

The grapes were hand picked, allowing for careful selection, and transported to the winery where they were destemmed. Cold pre-fermentation maceration lasted 6 to 8 days, after which fermentation was started with selected yeast and occurred at high temperatures, promoting the extraction of colour and flavour, with little pigeage and remontage. The grapes were pressed in a vertical press, and the wine was aged for 13 months without racking in 228, 350, and 390 litres oak barrels, with 30% new oak. Finally, the wine was filtered and bottled at the estate.

Previously winemaker for Olivier Leflaive, Jean-Marc Boillot founded his eponymous domaine in 1985 after renting vines in Pommard and Volnay. In 1988, he inherited more vines in both appellations from his grandfather and two years later, a third of Domaine Etienne Sauzet, in Puligny-Montrachet, was left to him by his grandmother. This bequest of land is rare in Burgundy but explains why Domaine Jean-Marc Boillot has acquired such a respected reputation in just under four decades. Jean-Marc has since retired to the south of France, and the domaine is currently run by his daughter Lydie with her winemaker husband, François Alzingre.