Marchand Frères Griotte Chambertin Grand Cru 2015

Griotte-Chambertin is a grand cru vineyard in the Gevrey-Chambertin appellation in Burgundy. It lies on the slopes below the famous Clos de Beze and Chambertin vineyards, borrowing its name from its more famous neighbor. Griotte-Chambertin is one of the more sought-after names in Gevrey-Chambertin, due to its fresher, more delicate style of Pinot Noir.

The climat covers just 2.7 hectares (6.7 acres) of land, on a slope that faces northeast, instead of east or southeast, like the other grand cru vineyards. This aspect means that the vines have less exposure to the morning sunshine, and ripen more slowly than other climats. While Gevrey-Chambertin is known for its strong, muscular styles of wine, Griotte-Chambertin wines tend to be aromatic and balanced.

Griotte-Chambertin wines are some of Gevrey-Chambertin's most collectable, not only because the site produces a smaller, more exclusive quantity of wine, but also because its quality and style are more consistent as a result of its limited size. Griotte's southern neighbor Charmes-Chambertin is often maligned for being too large (at 30ha/70 acres), and is therefore inconsistent. On average, prices for Griotte-Chambertin wines are 25 percent higher than those from Charmes-Chambertin, and nearly twice that of Chapelle-Chambertin to the north. While it is generally accepted that the grand crus on the lower mid-slope are of lesser quality than those higher up, Griotte-Chambertin is the exception.

The soils of the Griotte-Chambertin site are well-drained and stony, with a thin layer of pebble-strewn, chalky topsoil over a deep, rocky base. The percentage of clay reduces slightly towards the higher edge of the site, giving way to drier, looser limestone. The name Griotte reportedly refers to this chalky soil, while the Chambertin suffix, given to the climat in the 19th Century, applies to all the vineyards that touch the prestigious Chambertin site under Napoleonic law.