Domaine FaiveleyMazis-Chambertin Grand Cru 2018

Aristocratic´ is how winemaker Jérôme Flous describes this superb Grand Cru bottling, which combines understated power and concentration with some tannic grip and refreshing acidity. It´s a wine that needs more time in barrel and bottle to integrated its 50% new wood, but has all the elements to be age with distinction. Rich and serious.

Made from vineyards ex Dupont-Tisserandot and Faiveley’s traditional holding together. Both had two plots. More in the higher part. Concentrated fresh purple. Some depth of purple fruit, quite concentrated, also quite spicy. There is an enormous volume of fruit which is needed because this vineyard has significant tannins, which I think is the right decision for Mazis. Not a problem but this will need a long time in bottle. Plenty of block in this buster!

Once again there is just enough wood to point out along with hints of menthol, anise and the sauvage adding breadth to the ripe dark currant scents. As is usually the case, the larger-scaled flavors possess more size and weight if not the same refinement or minerality as the Latricières where the supporting tannins coat the palate on the grippy, serious and youthfully austere finale. This is very definitely and ´buy and forget it somewhere deep in the cellar´ wine.

More reserved than the Charmes and Latricières, the 2018 Mazis-Chambertin Grand Cru opens in the glass with a brooding bouquet of cassis, wild berries, smoked meats, rich soil tones, licorice and caramelized orange. On the palate, it´s medium to full-bodied, deep and introverted, with an ample endowment of fine, powdery tannins and lively underpinning acids. I´m looking forward to revisiting this from bottle.