Why it matters
The producer
The Verret family has been winegrowers in Saint-Bris since 1750. Domaine Verret now covers 66 hectares, with a range that joins Irancy reds, Chablis Premier Cru Beauroy and Crémant de Bourgogne. Fruit from the vineyard sites, attention paid to the vines and family know how accumulated across generations shape the domaine's winemaking philosophy.
In Irancy, Bruno Verret farms close to 13 hectares, making him one of the major landholders of the appellation. He makes six different Irancy cuvées, including blends and single vineyard cuvées. Tank aged and barrel aged examples sit alongside the single vineyard bottlings, so the red selection varies by both source and ageing vessel.
Place and vineyards
Where the wines begin
Irancy is a Burgundy appellation with 315 hectares of vineyards, planted predominantly to Pinot Noir, with up to 10% César permitted. Pinot Noir now ripens regularly there, reducing the old need for César to add depth to wines that might otherwise be lean. From Saint-Bris le Vineux, the range extends across Irancy, Chablis and Crémant de Bourgogne.
In the cellar
Vineyards and cellar
The red wines include tank aged and barrel aged examples. Tank ageing keeps the wine away from oak, while barrel ageing adds slow oxygen exchange and can contribute spice and a rounder texture. Single vineyard cuvées keep fruit from one vineyard selection apart from blends, so the bottle names a narrower source.
Wines to know
The range in view
The Irancy range includes six cuvées, with blends, single vineyard selections, tank aged wines and barrel aged wines. Irancy Les Mazelots is one of these red bottlings. Chablis Premier Cru Beauroy is the still white wine, while Bruno Verret Crémant de Bourgogne is sparkling and uses chardonnay, pinot noir, gamay, aligoté and sacy. The lineup covers red, white and sparkling wine across three Burgundy appellations.
Les Mazelots has a sustained, brilliant ruby colour. Its nose is fine and complex, with small red fruits and pepper, while the palate is rich and round, held in balance by freshness and the complexity of the terroir. Les Mazelots 2017 brings mineral nuances alongside the fruit.