Domaine Joseph Roty, Marsannay Champs St-Etienne, Burgundy, France, 2018

Overview of the Wine
Since 1710 the family have been based in Gevrey. The current "reputation" of Domaine Joseph Roty was down to Joseph himself, not just the comments of Remington and Clive, but also the quality of domaine's highly sought-after wines, wines mainly produced from old and in some cases some very, very old vines – tres vieilles vignes if you prefer!

Joseph started the core of today's domaine in the late 1960s with vines that came from his grandfather, vines that included Mazy (they spell like Rousseau), Griotte and Charmes-Chambertin grand crus.

Joseph was lost to this world in 2008, and although widow Roty still works behind the scenes, it is the sons of Joseph – Philippe and Pierre-Jean – the 11th generation at this family domaine that do the heavy stuff while a 12th generation are playing in the yard. Philippe had anyway being working progressively more with his father since about 1990 – there is very little that has been changed.

Grape / Blend
Pinot Noir

Origin
Burgundy, France

Tasting Notes
A nose of smoky, grilled black fruits, very alluring, spiced with much denser, darker fruit than the Marsannay Rouge; on the palate mouth-watering black fruits, succulent yet still with a refreshing twist, spiced, intense, grilled with a distant note of new wood going to fine, mineral, intense finish with a hint of tar and a zip of energy. Delicious.

90 Points - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate 
The 2018 Marsannay Champs Saint Etienne reveals notes of cherries, licorice, cassis and sweet soil tones. Medium-bodied, lively and fine-boned, with bright acids and fine, chalky tannins, it's one of the more precise, mineral wines in the domaine's range of Marsannay.

90 Points - Vinous 
The 2018 Marsannay Champs Saint-Etienne has a slightly confit-like bouquet of raspberry, black cherries and boysenberry scents; hints of fig emerge with time. The palate is medium-bodied with a minty opening, a mixture of blackberry and blueberry fruit and a saline, slightly briny finish. Excellent.

Product size: 750ml