2015 Domaine Francois Lamarche Echezeaux

Domaine Francois Lamarche is a 28-acre estate in Vosne-Romanee. Its history dates to the early 19th century, when Henri Lamarche, a cooper, married Marie Grivelet from Chambolle-Musigny and the couple started making wine. Today the fifth and sixth generations of the family run the estate. Francois Lamarche is winemaker and his wife Marie-Blanche is in charge of sales. The estate has Grand Cru parcels in Clos-de-Vougeot, Grands Echezeaux, Echezeaux and Premier Crus in Vosne-Romanee and Nuits-St.-Georges les Cras. It also owns La Grand Rue Grand Cru, a 4-acre monopole.

Echezeaux is a 93-acre Grand Cru vineyard on the southern edge of the Cote de Nuits. It up the slope from Clos de Vougeot and Grands Echezeaux and is one of the largest grand crus in Burgundy. The vineyard varies in elevation from 250 to 300 meters, and the terroir includes significant clay as well as thin, rocky soil. The largest proprietors are Domaine de la Romanee Conti, with 11.68 acres; Mongeard-Mugneret with 6.25 acres, and Emmanuel-Rouget, with 3.58 acres. Echezeaux produces red wine.

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.