2002 Domaine Maume Mazis-Chambertin

Domaine Maume is a 10-acre estate in Gevrey-Chambertin, Burgundy. It is currently run by Bertrand Maume, who represents the current generation of a family that has owned the small domain for more than a century. The estate has Grand Cru parcels in Mazis-Chambertin and Charmes-Chambertin, as well as Premier Cru parcels in Mazis-Chambertin, Gevrey-Chambertin and Charmes-Chambertin. Clive Coates has written that “what I like about Maume’s wines is their rampant individuality. The Mazis is sexy and exotic, wanton and dangerous. The Charmes is more refined.”

Mazis-Chambertin is a 22.4 acre Grand Cru vineyard near the village of Gevrey-Chambertin. The name Mazis is sometimes spelled with a “y” or without the final “s.” The soil is shallow and somewhat rocky, and the wine made from this vineyard is considered excellent. The legendary Lalou Bize of Maison Leroy is one of the smaller landholders with about .6 of an acre. There are some 30 proprietors with parcels in Mazis-Chambertin. The largest are Hospices de Beaune, with 4.38 acres; Bernard Dugat-Py, with 3.05 acres; and Joseph Faiveley, with 3 acres.

This red wine is relatively light and can pair with a wide variety of foods. The grape prefers cooler climates and the wine is most often associated with Burgundy, Champagne and the U.S. west coast. Regional differences make it nearly as fickle as it is flexible.