Charleux Maranges Premier Cru Clos Roussots 2019 750ml

Things get far more serious with Charleaux’s “Pépé Joseph” Clos Roussot, a premier cru vineyard designation in the Maranges region of the Côte de Beaune. Wine nerds can break out their Clive Coates Burgundy book to get the nitty gritty details on the vineyard specifics, but as Coates writes clearly: “People have started to visit Maranges, and for good reason. There is good winemaking, interesting wines and good value here,” especially at Domaine Charleaux, which he describes as “neither too dense nor unduly rustic; indeed getting steadily better and better,” with each vintage. Les Clos Roussots vineyard sits at the top of the appellation along the border with Santenay and the Pinot Noir from this site has incredible depth: more concentrated red berries, more structure and weight, and a streak of minerality that speaks to the rockier limestone soils, with raspberry compote and vanilla on the finish. Charleaux’s tiny 2.14 hectare parcel is yielding some incredible fruit! With a few years of bottle age already, this wine is drinking beautifully now—especially after some light decanting!