The visceral impression is freshness and depth, but the more I hung out with it in my glass the more nuance and spice started to develop. The complexity was fantastic and despite it being a wine of body it was drinking so well on that cold day in late February. Incredible sweet fruit and precision. Easily the most precise Maranges I have ever had with amazing acidity that just lifts and lifts and lifts. Stunning wine. For $30 you get a killer bottle of 2012 that would be more like $50 if it went through 3-tiers.
I also have a miniscule amount of Bertrand's racy and pure 2012 Chassagne-Montrachet Blanc for as little as $39.99 a bottle on the 3-pack. I literally just got off the phone with him to obtain the allocation of this wine as he thought the quantity was so small that it was not worth it and I reminded him no quantity is small enough for Fass Selections as that is what we are about here. Getting the best wine to the client, regardless of quantity or appellation. Chassagne is easier to sell than Maranges but both of these wines showcase how talented Bertrand is a winemaker, even if I only have a very small amount. Bertrand, like JJ Girard and Florent Garaudet, is as talented at making white Burgundy as Red. This is as about electric as Chassagne can get with beautiful floral inner mouth aromas, decadent spry acidity and that killer 2012 volume in the mouth. It is so elegant, yet has good weight, depth and exceptional concentration. For the first Chassagne-Montrachet Fass Selections has sold it does not get much better than this for the money. Please save me some!
Bertrand worked with his father up until 2011 when he took over the Domaine by himself. 2011 was his first vintage, then 2012 happened and I reserved what I could. This will be the only 2012 from Bertrand that I will offer and I HAD to offer it now as it would be gone in a few weeks. My appointment with him reflected that he had just taken over the Domaine. His parents both came in and visited and to see how he was doing with his first ever American Importer visit. It was very endearing. He has a total baby face.
We tasted in his tasting room after looking at the vineyards and I am telling you it is God's Country. Maranges is just beautiful. Chambolle-Musigny, Flagey-Echezeaux and Vosne-Romanee have nothing on the visual beauty of Maranges and its vineyards. The Fussiere is Bertrand's biggest holding and it is at the top of the slope. Fussiere makes wines that are rounder than a more traditional rustic Marnages and with a bit of finesse. The finesse gets me every time. Bertrand compares Maranges to Pommard and says it is a wine of body. Bertrand's 2012 is 1/3 new oak and 2/3 older oak.
In vintages where the quality is high across the board like 2012, these appellations become superstar values as the vintage quality gives these wines a big boost. Maranges can be charmingly rustic but can also have depth, intense fruit, structure and wonderful purity. I was so utterly charmed by young Bertrand Bachelet and his wines I had to offer them now because I want them in your cellars this fall. This is a spectacular value from a very young and up and comer.
I have very little, so put in your request and I hope I can accommodate.
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