Wine Advisor
Heitz Lochardet, Chassagne Montrachet 1er Cru La Maltroie 2018
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
The 2018 Chassagne-Montrachet Maltroie 1er Cru shows a bit of eggy SO2 on the nose that blurs the edges. Despite rigorous aeration I found it impossible to shift. The palate is balanced, missing a bit of acidity, yet lacks a bit of amplitude. With modest depth, at least it is harmonious on the white peach and Clementine-infused finish that becomes woody with aeration. Perhaps give it another year in bottle. Tasted blind at the Burgfest 2018 white tasting.
About the Producer
The history of the estate begins with the Nié-Vantey family. The family then owned vines from Santenay to Clos de Vougeot and had a significant trading activity. Mr. Georges Lochardet, a great wine merchant on the Côte de Beaune, marries Marcelle Nié. They then owned twenty hectares of vines as well as several farms. Their son Armand Lochardet inherited half of the estate. Armand Heitz, the grandson of Armand Lochardet, obtained his oenologist diploma after his studies at the Changins engineering school in Switzerland and then took over the reins of the Domaine. In 2012, Armand began growing vines on a plot of Burgundy Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.After this experience, the estate decided to expand in order to offer a more diversified range of appellations. Armand discovered that many plots lacked vitality due to excessive cultivation, and even after using biodynamic methods for 5 years without improvement, he decided to try to follow sustainable agriculture and agroecology to rebuild an environment suitable for microbial survival. In just 6 months, the vineyard returned to its original vitality. He believes that wine should not only focus on the quality of the grapes themselves, but that the entire grapevine is the source of all wine quality. Therefore, Armand uses whole-cluster fermentation for both red and white wines. As the owner Armand Heitz gains more attention, the winery has officially changed its name from Heitz-Lochardet to Armand Heitz since 2019.
