PRODUCER: Domaine Etienne Delarche
REGION: Côte d'Or, Burgundy, France
WINEMAKERS: Etienne Delarche
Any wine lover is aware of the spiralling prices on Burgundy. While it was once possible to find superb bottles of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay at reasonable prices, most casual consumers have been priced out of the region in the past two decades. That's the reason why we love Etienne Delarche so much. One of the Côte de Beaune's best-kept-secrets, this tiny family domaine found in the shadow of the Corton hill continues to produce gorgeous wines at affordable (at least for Burgundy) prices.
WINERY HISTORY
Domaine Etienne Delarche is a generations-old family domaine found in the tiny village of Pernand Vergelesses where current proprietor Etienne Delarche farms holdings totalling 22 acres across the Côte de Beaune. Having taken control of the domaine from his father, Philippe, in 2008, Etienne has gone to lengths to modernise the property. Crafting mouth-wateringly delicious wines with staggeringly affordable prices, the offerings lovingly crafted by Etienne remind those who try them of what Burgundy was in its golden age. With one half of the land dedicated to Pinot Noir and the other dedicated to Chardonnay and Aligoté, the Domaine retains a distinctly Burgundian spirit.
VITICULTURE & WINEMAKING
While still awaiting official certification, Etienne has farmed his vines in an organic and sustainable manner for years now. Guided by a deep respect for the Burgundy terroir, Etienne Delarche embraces a resolutely traditional approach to viticulture. The vines are pampered and cultivated with care to allow the distinctive character of each plot to express itself. Harvesting everything by hand is arduous, but ensures the delicacy of the fruit and the selection of only the best berries.
The Pinot Noir grapes for the reds are destemmed and fermented utilising indigenous yeasts in temperature controlled stainless steel vats. They are then aged for 12-15 months in French oak with no more than 30% new wood. The Chardonnay is also destemmed and delicately pressed, prior to fermentation with the aid of indigenous yeast in older French barrels. The only exception is Etienne's Grand Cru Corton-Charlemagne, which is both aged and fermented in new French oak. Wines are bottled unfiltered and unfined. The wines of Delarche are delineated by a captivating clarity and purity of flavour. The whites are creamy and concentrated, revealing delicate floral aromas and a persistent minerality. The reds are spicy and refined, characterised by a seductive balance between fruitiness and structure. Outstanding fresh off the production line or after years in the cellar, Delarche never fails to delight.
