2017 Château La Marzelle
Saint-Émilion Grand Cru Classé
“Showing good color, the wine is ripe, fleshy, rich and sweet. Loads of licorice and black cherry are all over the place. The wine is supple, fresh and will be ready to go early in its life. This is another hot property that keeps getting better and still sells for a fair price.”
The origin
- Vineyard
- 17 ha of adjoining land, 15 ha of production
- Grape varieties
- 70% Merlot - 20% Cabernet franc - 10% Cabernet sauvignon
- Density
- 5 700 à 7 900 plants/ha
- Âge moyen
- 29 years
- Production
- 3 500 bottles
- Situation
- Upper terrace of Saint-Emilion formbed by the former Isle riverbed
- Pruning
- Bordelaise method (2 canes per vine)
- Alcohol
- 13.5%
2017, a technical vintage, marked by the climatology.
The growing season began well with an early bud burst and a lovely growth.
Then three nights of exceptionally cold nights fell upon us, especially the 27th of April.
We would then note two heat peaks in May and in June. The following summer arrived with cool weather and a few rainy episodes in September. Throughout the growing season, the technical team at La Marzelle did formidable work in order to take the best part of the undamaged vines. They continued a “surgical” undertaking to identify the untouched plots, plant-by-plant, in order to produce and harvest a fruit that was at optimal ripeness.
The harvest was spread between the 18th and the 29th of September in order to undertake this challenge with utmost precision. In the cellar, the choice of our harvest reception equipment, that has been in place since 2015, was shown to have been particularly effective in this context. In fact, the vibrating sorting tables before and after the vertical de-stemmer, the densiometric sorting system and the berry-calibrating sorting machine, effectuated magnificent work that was undertaken with extreme care given the particular challenges of the vintage.
In the end, the reflection of the team, the choice of the context-appropriate winemaking equipment that we have implemented at La Marzelle, realized their full potential.
The ability to vinify in small vessels, in French oak barrels (for micro-vinification) but also in terra-cotta amphorae of different sizes allowed us to achieve the best results from our fruit inputs.
Therefore, the slogan for this vintage at La Marzelle is; small quantity but great quality.
As a reminder, Château La Marzelle has been engaged in an organic demarche since 2008 with an organic conversion that began during the 2017 vintage.
This is in parallel with a biodynamic approach for the third year.
Reviews
Jeff Leve
“Showing good color, the wine is ripe, fleshy, rich and sweet. Loads of licorice and black cherry are all over the place. The wine is supple, fresh and will be ready to go early in its life. This is another hot property that keeps getting better and still sells for a fair price.”
JM QUARIN-Primeur
“Couleur sombre, intense et belle. Nez moyennement aromatique, au fruité mûr et parfumé. Caressant à l’attaque, juteux au développement, moelleux, bien construit, le vin s’étire en finale sur des tannins savoureux et une longueur normale. Vignoble touché à 80 % par le gel. Production 4000 bouteilles au lieu de 55 000. Assemblage : 70 % merlot, 30 % cabernet sauvignon. Pas de cabernet franc cette année.”
Yves BECK - Jan 20
“Beaucoup de fraîcheur, de minéralité et de fruits dans le bouquet de La Marzelle 2017. Agréables notes de baies noires et de réglisse. Attaque charmante et rafraîchissante. En bouche le vin est juteux, légèrement crémeux et parfaitement soutenu par ses tannins. Belle expression gustative, jusqu'en fin de bouche. Finale fruitée, fraîche et persistante. 2022-2032”
Jane ANSON
“They were affected by frost here so the yields are pretty low, but to deal with the resulting irregularity they employed very precise fruit reception, measuring the density of each berry and fermenting at a low temperature to retain the fruit flavours. The result is that just 3,500 bottles have been produced from fruit brought in between 18-29 September. It's a liquorice-coated success - juicy and fresh, with firm, cool blue fruits and a complex finish of coffee and dark chocolate. Anne Calderoni is the biodynamic consultant at this estate.”
Jancis ROBINSON
“Very deep crimson. Oaky and dark-fruit sweetness on the nose but with an attractive tangy, lifted freshness breaking through. Firm and in balance. (JH)”
Wine Enthusiast
“A classic structure and delicious black-currant fruit have produced a stylish wine that has freshness as well as layers of attractive fruitiness. The wine's tannins will allow it to age. Drink from 2023.”
Jeb DUNNUCK - Primeur
“A unique blend of 75% Merlot , 25% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest Cabernet Franc, the 2017 Château La Marzelle exhibits good ripeness on the nose with plenty of sweet cassis, spice, graphite and integrated oak. lt's medium-bodied, deep, moderately concentrated and charming on the palate, with a fresh yet lengthy style . lt's an impressive, impeccably balanced effort well worth checking out .”
Markus Del Monego - Primeur
“Deep purple red with violet hue and black core. Initially quite closed, with some oxygenation displaying ripe berry-fruit and hints of toasting aroma, coffee and dark chocolate, on the palate well structured with ripe tannins, fine acidity and silky finish. An elegant and well balanced wine.”
JM QUARIN - OCT 2020
“Couleur sombre, intense et belle. Nez très aromatique, au fruité pur et mûr. Immédiatement fondant dès l'entrée en bouche, très fruité, le vin se développe sur un corps aérien et pourtant présent, avec beaucoup d'éclat dans la saveur. Longueur normale. 2023 - 2038.”
Anthocyanes
“Des notes de café, de murier, de réglisse et de graphite. Bouche relativement dense, de la structure et une charge tannique assez importante. L'élevage devra patiner l'ensemble pour lui apporter de la rondeur. Pour la prochaine décade.”
Bernard BURTSCHY
“La robe est sombre avec un nez intense de mûre. Le vin est dense, élégant, harmonieux, joli boisé, très équilibré. Le vin a été élaboré avec 70 % merlot, 20 % cabernet-franc et 10 % cabernet sauvignon. Rendement de 12 hl/ha. Il est élevé avec 70 % de fût neuf. 3-8 ans.”
Yves Beck -Nov 19
“Beaucoup de fraîcheur, de minéralité et de fruits dans le bouquet de La Marzelle 2017. Agréables notes de baies noires et de réglisse. Attaque charmante et rafraîchissante. En bouche le vin est juteux, légèrement crémeux et parfaitement soutenu par ses tannins. Belle expression gustative, jusqu'en fin de bouche. Finale fruitée, fraîche et persistante. 2022-2032”
Weinwisser
James Suckling -Jan20
“An attractive St-Emilion with blueberry and wet-earth character on the nose and palate. lt's mediumbodied with some fine tannins and a pretty finish with lovely, subtle fruit at the end. A blend of 70% merlot, 20% cabernet franc and 10% cabernet sauvignon. Drink in 2022.”
DUNNUCK Jeb
“From organic vines and a blend of 70% Merlot , 20% Cabernet Franc , and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon , aged in new barrels , the 2017 Chateau La Marzelle is a forward, fleshy effort that has lots of Bing cherry , raspberry, candied violets , and flowery incense aromas and flavors. With nicely integrated oak, medium to full body , fine tannins, and considerable elegance and purity, it's well worth seeking out and should have 10-15 years of prime drinking.”
RVF-AVRIL18
“Le gel marque un coup d'arrêt dans la belle dynamique du château. Ce qui a été sauvé est digne d'éloge : un très beau fruit, soyeux et rond, bien dans le style du château, mais aussi un caractère délié et digeste.”
Lisa PERROTI-BROWN
“A blend of 75% Merlot with splashes of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, the deep garnet-purple colored 2017 la Marzelle is quite oaky to begin, opening with expressive yeast extract, smoked meats and truffles notes over a core of blackberry pie and blueberry tart. Medium to full-bodied, firm and with a great core of black fruit reserves, it has a firm, grainy frame and refreshing lift to the somewhat woody finish.”
James SUCKLING
“A pleasant wine with some berry and wet-earth character. Medium body, pretty tannins and a firm finish.”
Christer BYKLUM
“Ruby. Blackberries, anise, fruity, dark berries, vanilla nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark berries, anise, spices, blueberries, juicy, long.”
Yves BECK
“Pourpre violacé. Bouquet marqué par son élevage avec des notes de vanille, de chêne et de caramel. Attaque friande. Au palais, le vin est équilibré et crémeux. Il présente un léger creux en milieu de bouche mais dispose d’une bonne intensité fruitée. La structure tient bien le fruit en fin de bouche. Un vin prometteur bien plus prometteur en bouche qu’au nez ! A suivre.”
