Maison Roche de Bellene, Vosne-Romanee Premier Cru, Aux Malconsorts, Burgundy

An introduction to Maison Roche de Bellene, Vosne-Romanee Premier Cru, Aux Malconsorts, Burgundy

One of the best-known Premier Cru climats within the appellation of Vosne-Romanée, the wines of Aux Malconsorts are also some of the most sought-after. Situated at the southern end of the commune, bordering Nuits-Saint-Georges, the vineyard, which is planted exclusively with Pinot Noir, is located mid-slope, facing south-east, on stony limestone-clay soils. The aspect here is conducive to longer slower ripening, imbuing the fruit with a notable concentration. With a network of growers across Burgundy’s best sites, Maison Roche de Bellene decides which parcels to use for each vintage. Their emphasis is on sustainable and organic farming and the fruit, or base wine always come from old vines. Here they were planted on east and south-east-facing clay-limestone soils at an elevation of 270m. The annual production of Maison Roche de Bellene Vosne Romanée Aux Malconsorts is extremely limited, and often less than 400 bottles.

Performance

Understanding Maison Roche de Bellene, Vosne-Romanee Premier Cru, Aux Malconsorts, Burgundy

The wine is made from hand-harvested and carefully selected Pinot Noir grapes. A proportion of whole bunches is used during the indigenous yeast fermentation, and the wine matures for up to 18 months in new oak barrels (50% new). Usually bottled filtered but unfined (vintage dependant), the Aux Malconsorts is dense and powerful, with spicy red and black fruits and savoury aromas. Built for the long haul, this is a wine that will reward extended cellaring upwards of 15 years. The wine has attracted significant critical attention. For instance, Burghound’s Allen Meadows said of its 2014 vintage: ‘Out of all of the 1ers in the range this is easily the biggest and most muscular; indeed this possesses grand cru size and weight, all wrapped in an intensely mineral-driven and explosively long finish’.

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