- 99 points -

#93 Top 100 Wines of The World

The enormously deep and dark nose of wet earth and spicy complexity barely prepares you for the combination of gigantic concentration, precision and originality on the stunningly graceful palate, which is only medium-bodied. The finish just keeps echoing down the valleys of your mind thanks to the extraordinarily fine tannins. From three plots in this legendary site totaling 1.4 hectares. From organically grown grapes. Matured in 50% new oak and 50% once-used oak

- 98 points -

If I were French I’d describe this as “feminine”, but being English, I’d say it’s elegant, stylish and extremely pretty. The colour is very pale, with notes of violets and ginger spice on the nose, subtle oak and plush, textured red fruits. The wine is light and almost transparent in flavour, but its acidity gives it length and intensity. 2015-25

- 97 points -

Consistently among the best sites in Faiveley’s mouth-watering array of vineyards, the most northerly Grand Cru in Gevrey has really delivered in 2014. Spicy, complex and savoury, with a blood, ferrous note, very fine tannins, some clove spice and impressive palate depth. 

- 97 points -

Lovely plum and blackcurrant fruit, with notable floral aromas, a bit of mineral, then hints of spice and smoke. The texture has a lovely richness, with plenty of structure and a firm tannic line, yet it remains approachable and supple. Faiveley owns 1.56ha in Mazis, which they picked at 13.5% potential alcohol in 2020. The grapes were partially destemmed and fermented with a very gentle extraction prior to ageing in 50% new casks.

- 97 points -

Marked by oak spice, this is nonetheless an elegant style, featuring floral, wild strawberry and cherry aromas and flavors. Sleek and firm, showing tension, picking up a mineral element as this stretches out on the finish.

- 96 points -

Five parcels of Mazis make up the Faiveleys’ 1.6 hectares of this Grand Cru. It’s another very impressive Pinot, showing subtle reduction, silky tannins, a core of black cherry fruit and an undertone of liquorice and wild herbs. Complex and persistent, with stylishly integrated oak.

- 96 points -

This beautiful red evokes violet, raspberry, strawberry and kirsch aromas and flavors. Tightens up on the palate, showing more oak as this winds down on the finish. All the components are here, just needs time to come together. Terrific length.

- 96 points -

Richer and rounder than the Latricières from the same stable, this is also easier to appreciate young. The oak is scented and well integrated, complementing the rose petal and violet aromas. The palate has quite serious tannins but these will soften over the next five to ten years. Another deliciously appetising red.

- 96 points -

From 1.56ha of several parcels in the Mazis-Haut lieu-dit. Despite a fermentation in open-top wood fermenters, with a proportion of whole clusters punched down daily and aged in 60% new casks, this is far from aggressive. Seductively approachable, showing red berry fruit character, mineral and smoky notes, with a silky, fairly open texture displaying great finesse without lacking substance.

- 96 points -

The Mazis bottling from Faiveley always marks a contrast with the Latricières, being
rounder, warmer and more generous when young. There’s still a substantial backdrop of tannin here, which will enable the wine to age gracefully in bottle as the slight reduction begins to fade. But it’s the fruit that draws and holds the attention.

- 95 points -

Faiveley has 1.56 hectares spread over several parcels in Mazis – mostly in Mazis-Haut but a small parcel in Mazis-Bas. This Mazis is a substantial wine but without quite the structure and depth of the Latricières. The forward cherry fruit with an earthy component is charming; technical director Jérôme Flous describes the earthiness as 'iron-rich, almost bloody'; the wine echos memorably on the finish. This wine will drink well after three to five years of cellaring and should continue improving for at least another 20 years after that.

- 95 points -

Laced with alluring notes of cherry, blackberry, pomegranate and spicy oak, this red is supple and dense. Lively acidity helps keep this balanced while corralling the flavors on the extended, iron-tinged finish. Shows superb harmony, texture and length.

- 95 points -

Brilliant aromas and flavors of cherry, strawberry, and currant highlight this complex red, which is intense, elegant and incredibly mineral, building to a kaleidoscopic finish. Structured and harmonious, with terrific aging potential.

- 95 points -

Considered the most “Gevrey" of the grands crus, a truly earthy wine. Here the thin soils and slightly higher elevation on the slope combine to produce a structured, tannic wine. The iron in the soils seems to have contributed, to a savoury, earthy note, a slightly exotic nose, and a fleshy texture that should develop in time into something unique.

(93-95) points

(from both Mazis Haut and Bas where the two parcels total a remarkable 1.20 ha). Toasty reduction knocks down the nose but there is fine freshness and richness to the suave and seductively textured bigger-bodied flavors that are generously proportioned while displaying both good tension and complexity on the impressively persistent and more powerful, if less refined, finish where a hint of wood appears. This isn’t quite as mineral-driven but save for a subtle touch of warmth, it’s beautifully balanced and should amply repay extended cellaring.

93-96 Points

Bright, deep red. Very deep aromas and flavors of raspberry, redcurrant, smoke and crushed rock. At once penetrating and utterly fine-grained; explosive sappy perfume fills the mouth without leaving any impression of weight. Pinot just doesn't pull off this trick anywhere but in Burgundy's top sites. Finishes with noble tannins and outstanding palate-staining length.

94+

Full medium red. Rather wild aromas of raspberry, smoky minerals and pungent sandalwood. Then plush, tactile and savory in the mouth, displaying classically dry flavors of strawberry, raspberry and minerals. At once polished and youthfully clenched, this distinctly saline, highly concentrated wine finishes with almost painful length and an impression of weightlessness. Less sweet in the early going than Faiveley's stunning Clos de Bèze but showing much more verve and fruit intensity than a barrel sample did in November of 2013.

93+ Points

Good deep red. Aromas and flavors of black raspberry and espresso are sexed up by a wild gamey character. Very fine-grained and expressive in the mouth, with the wine's subtle sweetness nicely complemented by saline minerality. A classic Mazis for the cellar, with its animal aspect leavened by nervy acidity and serious medicinal reserve. Has the tannic spine to ensure a slow evolution. I may be underrating this superb grand cru.

(92-95) Points

(from both Mazis Haut and Bas where the two parcels total a remarkable 1.20 ha). Here the nose is quite similar to that of the Latricières save for the fact that the sauvage character is even more pronounced. As is typically the case there is also more size, weight, richness and power if a bit less refinement and minerality to the large-scaled flavors that also brim with dry extract that does a fine job of buffering the hugely long finish. If you prefer a bit more elegance, buy the Latricières, and if you prefer robust power, buy the Mazis, though there’s no harm in liking both! 

92-95 Points

Reduction. There is outstanding richness to the beautifully textured, powerful, concentrated and energetic large-scaled flavors that terminate in a driving and explosively long finish where a touch of wood surfaces. This is a big but not inelegant Mazis with a subtle minerality that adds a touch of refinement to the very firm palate impression. Patience required yet this will be approachable young sooner than the Latricières.

(93-95) Points

(from both Mazis Haut and Bas where the two parcels total a remarkable 1.20 ha). A more deeply pitched nose is composed by notes of dark berry fruit, spice, earth and a hint of animale. There is obvious minerality to the rich, full and naturally sweet broad-scaled yet relatively elegant flavors that are solidly structured, muscular and wonderfully
intense while delivering superb complexity on the hugely long and moderately rustic finish. This gorgeous effort is indisputably built for long-term aging.

(93-95) Points

The last Grand Cru in the north of Gevrey. The soil is different: stony rocks and chalk from the mountain, resembling an avalanche. New Francois Freres barrel. Chocolatey new oak twist on the nose. Very fresh with nice perfumed, focused cherry and raspberry fruit. Good structure with some fine spicy notes. Linear with good acidity.

(91-94) points

A touch of green tea character sits atop the aromas of plum, cherry and more prominent sauvage nuances. There is a really lovely mouthfeel to the suave, round and powerful medium-bodied flavors that also display evident minerality on the slightly more complex but noticeably more persistent finale. At least some patience will be necessary as this is quite tightly wound.

(93-95)

The 2021 Mazis-Chambertin Grand Cru has a touch of reduction but there is more complexity vis-a-vis the Latricières, a mélange of red and black fruit, sous-bois and pressed flowers. The palate is medium-bodied with pliant tannins, well balanced, a liberal sprinkling of black pepper with a nicely focused and quite structured finish (for the vintage). Very fine.

92-94 Points

A discreet though still easily perceptible dollop of wood sets off very earthy aromas of various dark berries, humus and old leather. The rich, powerful and seriously concentrated big-bodied flavors possess impressive size, weight and power along with good minerality on the attractively textured and hugely long finale where the only nit is again, a hint of warmth.

(93-95)

A slightly riper and exuberantly spicy nose is composed by notes of black cherry, dark raspberry, the sauvage and a whiff of earth. There is superb mid-palate density to the opulent yet serious big-bodied flavors that are shaped by a firm core of dense and very firm tannins on the hugely long yet impeccably well-balanced finish.

(93-95) POINTS

(60% new oak): Dark red with ruby highlights. Complex, inviting aromas of black raspberry, peony, toast, smoke and game. Compellingly rich, creamy wine with a captivating mixture of dark berries, flowers and toasty oak. Maintains its thickness and body straight through to the very ripe, long, suavely tannic finish. A beauty.

(92-94) points

Deeper and more structured than the ethereal Latricières, the 2021 Mazis-Chambertin Grand Cru reveals aromas of red berries, orange zest, forest floor and a discreet touch of toasty new oak, followed by a full-bodied, layered and impressively concentrated palate.

(92-94) POINTS

The 2017 Mazis-Chambertin Grand Cru is a blend of the original Faiveley parcel plus around 0.5 hectares gained through their acquisition of Dupont-Tisserandot. It has quite an intense bouquet of blackberry, briar and wild strawberry scents, coming across a little burly compared to the more nuanced Latricières-Chambertin. The palate is well balanced with a fine bead of acidity, the palate perhaps showing more potential than the aromatics at the moment. There is very good weight here, fine mineralité and quite a precise, sustained finish. Give it five or six years in bottle.

(92-95) POINTS

(from both Mazis Haut and Bas where the two parcels total a remarkable 1.20 ha). Here the expressive nose isn’t quite as toasty but it’s still far from subtle while managing not to unduly mask the more sauvage-inflected dark berry and forest floor scents. There good density and solid power to the muscular yet reasonably refined flavors that also evidence ample minerality on the beautifully long finale where the supporting tannins are slightly riper. This too should age effortlessly and I often prefer the Latricières but in 2017, the Mazis appears to have a slight edge in quality.

(95-95) POINTS

(93-96) POINTS

(entirely destemmed): Bright dark red. Restrained but very pure aromas of raspberry, smoky minerals and game. Viscous, round and generous in the mouth but with terrific fruit intensity and balancing energy; this rather full-bodied wine is ultimately more primary than the Latricières. A wonderfully concentrated wine with outstanding spicy depth and palate-staining perfume. The blend now includes vines in Mazis-Chambertin du Bas, which came to Faiveley with their purchase of Domaine Dupont-Tisserandot in late 2013. While this parcel is not the best location in this grand cru (and the vineyard is missing a lot of vines), the plant material here is excellent, and this fruit improved the wine, according to Erwan Faiveley. The crop level in Mazis was just 20 hectoliters per hectare in 2015.