Mazis Chambertin, Grand Cru, Cuvée Madeleine Collignon, Eleve Par Louis-Michel Liger-Belair, 2016

We were bewitched by its refined, deft and gliding quality. The flavours roll seamlessly across the palate, exhibiting beautifully bright and immediately seductive cherry, Victoria plum, wild strawberry and cherry blossom characteristics. Louis-Michel Liger-Belair is taking care of the ageing and bottling on our behalf. The Hospices de Beaune own a prime swathe of Mazis-Chambertin, 1.74ha, situated in the “Mazis Haut” at the heart of the hillside, on the same contours as its next door neighbour Clos de Bèze. Two thirds of this plot were planted in 1947. It was donated to the Hospices in 1976 by Jean Collignon, in memory of his mother. Although 2016 was a relatively late vintage, by recent standards, Mazis was unaffected by frost that year and therefore ripened evenly and without too much delay. The year also marks the second vintage with Ludivine Griveau in charge of the winemaking, the first female winemaker at the Hospices since 1443! With as much rigour in the vineyards as her predecessor, Roland Masse, and with a tendency to lighten the winemaking and lessen the impact of oak on the wines, the future for the quality of the Hospices wines looks bright indeed.