HOWARD Park’s ‘can do’ Jeffrey Burch is one of the modern wine world’s most creative and lateral free thinkers.
If there was ever a question about how an ‘old-world’ wine- maker named Pascal Marchand who has a background working in famous Burgundian wineries was going to fit into a winemaking partnership with Jeff, they have been answered – emphatically.
Through Pascal, Jeff is certainly the first Australian to produce Grand Cru Burgundy – and not only Grand Cru Burgundy, but great Grand Cru Burgundy.
Their 2007 Chambertin Clos-de-Beze (only 25 dozen) sold at $500 a bottle. Since the original four 2007 Australian Marchand & Burch releases, Pascal’s winemaking experiences have added a new dimension to WA’s wine offerings.
The 2007 Chardonnay is the James Halliday Wine Companion’s equal highest pointed chardonnay and the 2008 Mt Barrow Pinot Noir was one of the AFR Magazine’s Philip Rich’s Australasia’s Top Twenty Wines of 2009. The newly released and virtually sold-out 2009 releases are superior.
Marchand & Burch Chardonnay 2009
From 20-year-old Porongup vines, this is young, soft, subtle, fresh and very long.
It is ripe yet restrained.
The almost opulent cool area ‘spreading’ and dense fruit flavours are in complete harmony with the fine, silky and texturing tannins. Marvellous and their best WA chardonnay to date.
18.5 points RRP $72.75
Marchand & Burch Mt Barrow Pinot Noir 2009
The key component of this wine is the great length of dense, full, delicious and placid fruit flavours. There are persistent fine drying tannins and the fruit levels are such that they carry this with ease.
The best Australian Marchand & Burch pinot noir to date.
The east’s wine columnists say that the west can’t produce pinot, so this would prove to be a fascinating component of any tasting of Australasia’s finest current releases.
18.5pts RRP $72.75
If you can find them, the Marchand & Burch 2007 Meursault and Gevrey Chambertin are among the best from their appellations and the Clos-de-Beze is a great wine.
If Pascal can also produce Australian wines of this quality in just his third vintage, what will the partnership be producing in 2020?