WINE OF THE WEEK - 2017 Domaine Charles Audoin Marsannay Au Champ Salomon

I took a nice trip to a fancy wine shop this week.

Well, actually, it was still an LCBO outlet (see below for more on the LCBO) - but it was a fancy one. Summerhill to be exact.

If you’re from the Toronto area, you’ll know that this location is thought to be one of the best in the city, mostly because it’s positively huge and carries a vast selection of liquor at all price points. It also happens to be in a converted train station with lots of natural light and marble all over the place which makes it beautiful without a doubt. I always love shopping here.

As I wandered the vast and numerous sections and aisles at the Summerhill LCBO, I couldn’t help but be drawn to the Burgundy and Bordeaux sections. Dazzling brands and stunning prices abound, let me tell you! There is some really good stuff hanging around waiting for those that want to fork out a lot of dough for a really nice bottle.

However, that’s not what Wine Wednesdays are about (if you want to know more, be sure to read this blog post where I outline my approach to my weekly Wine Wednesday picks.) so you can be assured that I walked past these bottles and looked instead for a value play. I’m happy to say that I think I succeeded in finding a good one!

So with that, let’s get to the wine of the week! I love to share what I find on Wednesdays…….

Now I’d be remiss not to point out that because I’m located in Ontario, Canada and I buy my wines for the Wine of the Week feature from the LCBO (Liquor Control Board of Ontario). For the convenience of readers who are located in Ontario, I always provide the LCBO Product Number, and a direct link to the LCBO website, in my reviews.  

However, the wines I pick are generally widely available in most major markets and online too. So if you like what you read, you should be able to find the wine wherever you like to shop.  

And with that, let’s get into this week’s pick!

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2017 Domaine Charles Audoin Marsannay Au Champ Salomon

This week’s wine comes from the Burgundy region of France, and more specifically, from the Marsannay AOC (appellation). It is made by a small family owned estate, which is a fairly common situation in this part of the (wine) world and is truly a quality wine. Read on to learn all that you need to know about this wine.

What does this wine cost?

$64.00/bottle. Now let’s just remember that this is Burgundy and terms like “value” and “affordable” are all relative. Burgundy is generally far more expensive than other parts of the world and given what Burgundy wines can go for at retail, especially from a specific plot and a specific appellation, this one is reasonably priced.

Where does this wine come from?

Marsannay is a specific appellation within Burgundy and is often called the “gateway” to the Cote d’Or because it is the northernmost village of this area of Burgundy, right at the tip of the Cote-de-Nuit. Famous for incredible wines made from 100% Pinot Noir, the Cote de Nuits is thought to be the “spiritual home” of Burgundy - a place like no other when it comes to this varietal, because of the very specific soils that are found here.

Within this broad region, Marsannay is perhaps not the most highly regarded appellation, however it is well known for producing intensely coloured, firm and flavourful, age-worthy wines that do well with food. Because the appellation does not have any “premier” or “grand” cru sites as yet, the wines from here are still relatively affordable (as far as good Burgundy goes, of course!).

Want to know more about Marsannay? Check out this well written New York Times article!

Why is this wine unique?

Aside from the fact that this wine comes from Marsannay, it is also made from fruit that is sourced from a specific “liuex-dit” or site, called “Au Champ Salomon”. You will find this moniker on the bottle.

Why is this important? Well, lieux-dit have been so designated because there is something special about them, generally in relation to the terroir, or growing conditions. Typically, wines from a specific site command a higher price and are associated with a higher level of quality.

For the aspiring wine geeks out there, it is a joy to drink wines from lieux-dit and analyze how they differ from plot to plot within a specific appellation :)

Who makes this wine?

This wine is made by Domaine Charles Audoin. Founded in 1972 with only 3 hectares, the estate’s holding has now grown to 14 hectares, many of which are located in some of the best parcels of the Marsannay appellation. Now run by the son of the founders, this estate is known to produce some of the best and highly respected examples of wine coming from the appellation today.

Planted in 1945, the "Champ Salomon” plot is considered to be amongst the best of this estate’s holdings.

A few Wine Geek “essential facts” about the wine (feel free to skip this if you don’t care about detailed wine-making information!):

Variety - 100% Pinot Noir, all from one plot of land

ABV - 13%

Residual Sugar - 3 g/L

My tasting notes:

A sparkling and intense ruby colour in the glass, this wine gives instant notes of cherries, strawberries, iron minerality and smoked meat on the nose. On the palate, the wine is fresh and laced with juicy acidity and notes of pomegranate, cherries, raspberries, roses and warm earth scintillate. With medium tannins and a long finish, this wine keeps inviting you back for another sip….and another!

Aging potential:

This wine can be aged for 3-5 years, but is also drinking very well now.

Recommendations to Wineitupanotch:

Pair this wine with cured sausage, prime roast or duck breast.

Wineitupanotch Wine Score: 93 points

This wine is a delicious entry level introduction into the riches that Burgundy has to offer, but a more elevated experience than true entry level Burgundy! I highly recommend it!

If you’re located in Ontario, and wish to purchase this wine, you can find it at the LCBO under Product #429134.

FINAL VERDICT:

A delicious must-buy for any savvy French wine lover!

If you’ve tried this wine already, or decide to pick it up and try it after reading this post, I’d love to hear from you and hear what you think of it! Please do drop me a line.

Until next time, wishing you love, light and of course - good wine! :)

Cheers!

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