Romuald Valot Maranges Les Clos Roussots Premier Cru 2022

Romuald Valot is back at it again! Today, we have his generous and rich 2022 Les Clos Roussots Premier Cru out of the quaint Maranges appellation for OVER 50% off!

We’ve said it once, and we’ll say it again – there’s practically nothing Romuald Valot can do that we won’t obsess over. These Burgundies are some of the most desirable expressions of the region, from a producer who firmly prioritizes holistic farming and minimal intervention winemaking. He works without chemicals in the fields, using plant-based infusions instead, even refusing to prune some of his sites to allow nature to fully take its course. His practices are purposefully old-fashioned – a choice he made after growing up the son of a vigneron in Burgundy and watching too many large producers cutting corners to churn out large quantities of questionable-quality wine.

After some time spent living in Beaujolais, where he grew his land holdings alongside his status as a farmer first, vintner second – he returned to Burgundy to thoughtfully select highly regarded, carefully maintained vineyards and finally craft his own authentic wines in his homeland. This wine hails from the southernmost appellation of the Côte de Beaune, Maranges, a place often overshadowed by the bigger, flashier AOCs nearby, despite its impressive terroir and powerful wines. Les Clos Roussots is a greatly prized vineyard that produces structured, concentrated, and age-worthy Pinot Noir from its rocky, marlstone, and sandstone soils positioned high on the slope.

From the glass, dusty cherry skins and fresh sage dance through the air, and then comes a touch of stony, smoky minerality. In the mouth, fresh and cooked fruits abound – raspberry compote, stewed strawberry, red plum, red cherry – followed by a tinge of vanilla, some clove, charred cedar, and cinnamon. This leans more full-bodied, but never overly weighty due to the balanced acidity and mineral undertones. A true delight in every sense – and a stunning value for Premier Cru Red Burgundy, to be certain! Grab a few extra to hold on to for up to the next decade, at least!

PAIRING IDEAS: I could probably eat curry more days of the week than not, and this juicy red curry pot roast chicken is truly tremendous, especially with a richer, more full-bodied Pinot to hold up to its big flavor and spice.