2021 Marsannay Rouge, Le Chapitre, Domaine Jean Fournier, Burgundy

Laurent Fournier handed me a bottle of the 2021 Marsannay Le Chapitre before driving back to Blighty. Not in bottle, it has an open-knit bouquet with slightly leafy red fruit, touches of clove and tomato vine, and the 50% whole bunches arguably a little “vocal.” But the palate is well balanced, with noticeable acidity lending freshness and compensating for its simplicity. I had no qualms about cracking this open for dinner the first night after my Burgundy trip, and it will drink for 4-5 years.

Drink 2024 - 2028

An interesting hint of freshly ground coffee can be found on the aromas red and dark currant that are trimmed in subtle oak. The sleek and refined, indeed almost delicate, middleweight flavours possess excellent cut and minerality while delivering good, if not special, depth and persistence on the youthfully persistent finish. This is on the lighter side yet even so, it will need a few years to develop more depth - besides, Le Chapitre rarely drinks especially well young.

Drink 2028

A fine mid red crimson. The bouquet is stylish with less intensity than Aloxe. Whole bunches much in evidence on the palate, in a form that pleases me as it helps the intensity of strawberry and cherry fruit explode on the palate. The tannins are not dry on the finish and the fruit continues seamlessly past them.

Drink 2025 - 2028