This March, Subi Spritz will play host to the first public tasting of the much-anticipated 2020 wines from the Marchand & Burch French Collection. Read on for some notes from the team at Marchand & Burch from the 2020 vintage, and what you can expect to discover in your glass across Subi Spritz…
—-
“2020 was an especially unique vintage in Burgundy as not only was it one of the earliest harvests on record, but it was also the first harvest in which producers had to navigate COVID-19.
The isolation of the pandemic meant Burgundian winemakers and viticulturists were able to devote all of their attention to harvest resulting in a vintage of vivacious freshness, fruit purity, and profound concentration. Excellent for cellaring or to enjoy now!
As Mark Fincham from Marchand & Burch writes, ‘I don’t look at 2020 as a hot year, rather one that started a bit earlier.’ Although the temperature throughout the season sat well above average, there were no extreme heat waves. The precocity of the 2020 vintage was instead due to the combination of a very mild winter followed by a warm growing season free from any cool periods to slow ripening.
The first few months of 2020 were unseasonably warm with above-average temperatures and heavy winter rainfall in February and March, providing ample replenishment of the soil moisture levels.
The weather in April was warmer than usual, setting a trend that would continue for the rest of the growing season shifting the entire growing season forward. These changes pointed to a new normal in Burgundy, a result of changing climate trends. Luckily, the vines have started to adapt!
June, July, and August remained warm with only a few brief hot spells exceeding 30 degrees. These warmer, dryer days meant that sugars were leaping up quickly, while ripeness and tannin were developing and acid was dropping.
Juggling these elements meant Marchand & Burch’s winemakers needed to pick the grapes at the precise moment when all of these parts harmonised perfectly. Those who were able to pick at the optimum time were rewarded with a liveliness that formed in the wines, counterbalancing the richer, riper strokes.
The 2020 vintage saw wines of intensity, concentration, and purity across both white and red varieties. The resulting Chardonnays are taut, boasting structure and aromatic purity, and the 2020 Pinot Noirs are a tantalising combination of fruit maturity and bright acidity.”
Guests of Burgundy: From the Ground Down will learn the hand soil, climate and weather play in creating great wine while having the unique opportunity to taste the 2020 Savigny-Les-Beaune Vergelesses Premier Cru. The first of nine wines, from there David Stredwick and Gerome Vaughan will guide attendees through a tasting spanning the 2018, 2019, and 2020 vintages with a focus on exploring the soil types and terroir of Burgundy. Connect with Subiaco’s distinct European roots while discovering this iconic French cornerstone of fine wine.
Looking for something more bubbly? Enjoy Marchand & Burch alongside Howard Park’s range of sparkling wines with accompanying bites at Bubbles on the Deck at Bar Amelie.
For details on the full range of Marchand & Burch wines, visit their website.
