2012 Marsannay Champs St Etienne

Full medium red. Musky, slightly reduced aromas of red fruits, red licorice and menthol. Juicy, supple and nicely delineated, with a rocky underpinning to the cherry and spice flavors. Finishes with light, ripe tannins and lingering notes of leather and flint. From reddish, clay-rich soil that also produces white wine, notes Pierre-Jean Roty, adding that this tiny lieu-dit is "almost a monopole."

The 2012 Marsannay Cuvee St. Etienne (Philippe Roty) has a fragrant, floral bouquet with redcurrant, crushed strawberry and a touch of vanilla, later hints of orange blossom. The palate is well balanced with sappy red berry fruit on the entry, a veneer of vanilla new oak that is nicely assimilated with the wine, lending it a modern sheen. The finish needs to develop just a little more...personality and nervosite, but the length is impressive. Domaine Joseph Roty has a reputation for being a little “prickly” towards journalists. I probably would too if I were a winemaker. I guess it must derive from some troubled tete-a-tetes with Clive Coates many years ago and reputation spread. From my own point of view, I have always found the Roty family to be friendly and obliging of any requested visit. It is just that they are not going to lay out the red carpet – and nor should they. They are too busy working out in the vineyard, which means they have their priorities right. As usual, they had lined up samples on a table overlooking their clos of vines outside the family home. Phillipe Roty was indeed out in the vines when I called and so his mother guided me through the wines. She told me that the harvest commenced on 22 or 23 September (she could not remember exactly, but what’s 24 hours between friends?) Like everywhere else, their old vines especially were severely affected by millerandage and there was widespread coulure around Gevrey. All the fruit here is de-stemmed. You might describe the wines as erring towards more modern in style apropos ripeness levels and use of new oak, although they are extremely well crafted and as always, disprove the notion that Marsannay cannot produce great Pinot Noir. Check out Roty’s “Boivin” or “Clos de Jeu” for quite brilliant expression of this village at the northern extreme of the Cote d’Or. Their top crus can be outstanding and the 2012s offer a clutch of delicious, fruit-laden, complex wines from old vines that will age with style and grace. Roty is one of the great names of Gevrey and Philippe Roty and his team continues to quietly produce wines from the top-drawer. Importer: Wine of France (NY) and Atherton Wine Imports (www.awiwine.com) in California. Also Private Cellar, Robert Rolls, Corney & Barrow.