2008 Nicolas Potel Mazoyères-Chambertin

Maison Nicolas Potel is a negociant started in Burgundy in the late 1990s by Nicolas Potel, son of the legendary winemaker Gerard Potel, who founded Domaine de la Pousse d’Or in Volnay. After Gerard’s death in 1997 Nicolas started the negociant business, but a falling out with his business partners in 2009 forced him out of the business that still bears his name. The company is now owned and operated by the brothers Louis and Armand Cottin of Maison Laboure-Roi, a nearly two-hundred year old Burgundy negociant. Nicolas Potel has had no connection with Maison Nicolas Potel since 2009. The Maison offers a large portfolio of Grand Cru, Premier Cru and other Burgundies.

Mazoyeres-Chambertin is a small part of the Grand Cru vineyard Charmes-Chambertin. Mazoyeres runs adjacent to the road, one of only two Grand Crus in Burgundy to abut a major thoroughfare. Most of the growers with parcels in Mazoyeres also have parcels in Charmes-Chambertin, and for historical reasons they are legally allowed to use the name Charmes-Chambertin for the wines they produce in Mazoyeres. Many do so since Charmes-Chambertin is better known and widely admired. Still, several producers do sell their wines under the Mazoyeres name. They include Domaine Camus and Domaine Richard.

This red wine is relatively light and can pair with a wide variety of foods. The grape prefers cooler climates and the wine is most often associated with Burgundy, Champagne and the U.S. west coast. Regional differences make it nearly as fickle as it is flexible.