MARTHE HENRY BOILLOT
Meursault
Burgundy
Marthe operates from a rather smart cellar located in Meursault, once the cherished domain of her grandfather, Pierre Boillot. Interestingly, this domaine had also previously been exploited by François Mikulski, Pierre's nephew, until the early 2000s when he relocated to larger premises near the main road by the Hôpital de Meursault.
When asked about her journey, despite her upbringing in Paris, Marthe fondly recounts her childhood spent on holidays in Meursault with her grandparents, surrounded by vineyards and the beauty of nature. Therefore, it seemed only natural for her to eventually rekindle her connection to her roots and establish a permanent presence in Burgundy, a decision she made in 2013.
After graduating from Le Viti in Beaune and a short stint at the Rougeot’s in Meursault, Marthe embarked on her winemaking venture in 2017, initially starting with a humble production of 3,000 bottles and as few as 12 barrels. Her guiding principle has always been to seek out the most captivating parcels, gradually expanding her scope. She eagerly anticipates the day when she can access the family-owned vineyards from her late grandfather, which, following Pierre's passing, remained within the family and were rented out until this year. Her goal is to do more with each passing vintage. Presently, her project still remains exclusively centred on the négoce model, but she now has a team of employees and manages over 75 barrels.
Bourgogne Aligoté
Vintage 2020
Style White
Region Santenay, Burgundy
Varieties Aligoté
ABV 12%
Soils Red clay, Limestone
Farming Organic
Winemaking Direct pressed juice is left to settle gently over 24-48 hours. Spontaneous fermentation using native yeasts followed by a long 18-month élevage on fine lees, in 228L barrels (old cask only). Racking at the end of winter followed by a very light filtration in order to gain a little extra aromatic precision.
Tasting Note The wine is fresh and energetic, with an airy and ripe complexity. On the nose shows power and structure, lifted by a flinty quality. On the palate is intense with a cool fruit, good intensity and a lovely balance.
Bourgogne, Les Grandes Gouttes
Vintage 2020
Style White
Region Meursault, Burgundy
Varieties Chardonnay
ABV 13%
Soils Clay-limestone Marls, Alluvial Sediments
Farming Organic
Winemaking This follows the exact same vinification and cellaring process as seen for Marthe’s Aligote. Direct press is followed by a short settlement stage before barrelling for fermentation and ageing. Bottled after a light filtration.
Tasting Note Les Grandes Gouttes comes from a plot on the southern side of the Meursault village, bordering Puligny. The vines were planted in the 1970s and yield huge complexity and depth. The nose offers detailed fruit and plenty of intensity. There is a magical energy and purity about this wine, which certainly overdelivers for a regional appellation wine.
Montagny
Vintage 2020
Style White
Region Montagny, Burgundy
Varieties Chardonnay
ABV 13%
Soils Clay, Limestone Marls
Farming Organic
Winemaking Montagny is also direct pressed and fermented spontaneously in exhausted Burgundy barrels. Malolactic occurs naturally and the wine is aged for 18 months on fine lees, in barrels.
Tasting Note A zippy wine, with finely detailed fruit and a good length. The palate offers a beautiful mineral character and a silky finish.
Saint-Romain, Combe Bazin
Vintage 2020
Style White
Region Saint Romain, Burgundy
Varieties Chardonnay
ABV 12.5%
Soils Limestone, Clay
Farming Organic
Winemaking Vinified and aged in Pièces Bourguignonnes and bottled about two years later, after going through malolactic conversion and spending a minimum of 15 months on fine lees. Loosely filtered and bottled with minimal SO2.
Tasting Note This comes from old vines planted high on the limestone-rich soils of Combe Bazin on steep slopes of Saint-Romain. The wine shows some serious laser-focused fruit, followed by a balancing acidity and chalky minerality on the finish.
Meursault, Sous La Velle
Vintage 2020
Style White
Region Meursault, Burgundy
Varieties Chardonnay
ABV 13%
Soils Clay-limestone Marls, Alluvial Sediments
Farming Organic
Winemaking Marthe’s top wine is produced in the exact same way as seen with all of her other whites. Chardonnay is pressed and feeds in to barrels of old French oak where alcoholic fermentation takes place. Malolactic fermentation occurs naturally, after which the wine sees an 18-month period of ageing on fine lees, in barrel.
Tasting Note An absolutely stunning example of village Meursault, in this case exclusively from the Sous la Velle terroir, planted at old vines. It offers concentrated notes of ripe, fleshy fruit such as white peach and apricot. There’s good weight on the attack, a full-bodied palate which delivers a round, airy texture with flavours of golden apple, butter and sweet spices ending on an elegant silky finish.
Fleurie
Vintage 2021
Style Red
Region Fleurie, Beaujolais
Varieties Gamay
ABV 13.5%
Soils
Farming Organic
Winemaking Whole bunch harvest and vinification in tank. Grapes see a pump over or two per day during the 15 days of vatting and three light punch downs by foot on the very last day of maceration before pressing. Pressing is very gentle and without re-drying to avoid extracting any plant material. Aged un-racked in barrels for 18 months. Bottled after a light filtration in the following month.
Tasting Note Notes of wild black and red berries, crunchy blueberries and fragrant violets are lifted by an intense purity and spiced pencil shavings. So precise and confident.
Hautes-Côtes-de-Beaune
Vintage 2020
Style Red
Region Sampiny-les-Maranges, Burgundy
Varieties Pinot Noir
ABV 12.5%
Soils Clay, Limestone
Farming Organic
Winemaking Bunches of grapes are harvested whole and vinified in tank with daily pump overs for approximately two weeks. Élevage in 228L barrels, all of which is of old oak. No racking during the whole 18 months of ageing, only once a month prior to bottling.
Tasting Note The wine embodies great balance, with a subtle earthy nose an attractive dark cherry and delicate violet notes. Medium bodied, showing a remarkable elegance and great drinkability in its youth.
Bourgogne Rouge
Vintage 2020
Style Red
Region Burgundy
Varieties Pinot Noir
ABV 12%
Soils Clay, Limestone
Farming Organic
Winemaking Hand-harvested whole bunches are fermented in tank using indigenous yeasts. The fruit remains untouched for the first 24 hours of fermentation after which pumped overs start and are repeated twice a day approximately two weeks. Ageing is in 228L barrels of old oak, for 18 months.
Tasting Note Marthe’s first Bourgogne Rouge. It is juicy, fresh and elegant. On the nose displays sustained red fruits combined with peppery aromas, typical of Pinot Noir.
Maranges
Vintage 2020
Style Red
Region Maranges, Burgundy
Varieties Pinot Noir
ABV 13.%
Soils Clay, Limestone
Farming Organic
Winemaking Whole bunches of grapes are harvested whole and vinified in tank with daily pump overs for approximately two weeks. Élevage in 228L barrels, all of which is of old oak. No racking during the whole 18 months of ageing, only once a month prior to bottling.
Tasting Note
Pommard
Vintage 2019
Style Red
Region Pommard, Burgundy
Varieties Pinot Noir
ABV 13%
Soils Clay-limestone Marls, Jurassic Limestone
Farming Organic
Winemaking Whole bunch harvest and vinification in tank. Grapes see a pump over or two per day during the 15 days of vatting and three light punch downs by foot on the very last day of maceration before pressing. Pressing is very gentle and without re-drying to avoid extracting any plant material. Aged un-racked in barrels for 18 months. Bottled after a light filtration in the following month.
Tasting Note A tremendous effort on village Pommard. Velvety and round with typically pronounced dark fruit flavours and ripe tannins. The palate is silky and deep, lifted by mouthwatering acidity and a marked mineral imprint on the finish. Definitely on for the cellar, keep up to 15 years.