Pascal Marchand
France
Talented Canadian producing top class wines in Burgundy...without the price tag
- Pascal Marchand, a real character and a solid chap to boot. He has been described as half a woodsman half an old sea dog
- He believes that just like man, wine must not forget its roots! He became a pioneer of Organic practices in Burgundy, fighting to clear the chemicals that were suffocating the vines
- This France-loving Quebecker is also a world citizen, flying regularly to different wine regions round the planet to share his know-how, the knowledge he has acquired in Burgundy
Vineyard Location
Pascal Marchand's Story
Pascal Marchand's Story
"I am an hedonistic guy and an epicurean. To be a winemaker is the perfect occupation for a such a guy.
My wines are made in the most natural way possible, minimizing the oenological products that are there normally to cover what is missing from the vineyards, because to much production or lack of work. All that is done in a way the wines deliver a real sense of place.
When I make my wines, I am really looking to give pleasure to people. My wish is when they open a bottle of my wines, they will share an unique moment with family or friends and this help to elevate the level for a great discussion.
My Winemaking History
January 1985 to August 1999: I had the chance, even before I finished the wine school, to be appointed “régisseur”, responsible of one of the great estate of the Côte de Beaune: Le Clos des Epeneaux. This was not even 2 years after I came to Burgundy for the first time.
From 1999 to 2006 : After 15 great years spent in Pommard at Comte Armand, a new opportunity, and wonderful challenge came to me. Nathalie Bergés-Boisset and her brother Jean-Charles Boisset, children of Burgundian tycoon Jean-Claude Boisset who is heading the 3rd largest French wine group, desire to create an estate that would be the showcase of all their wineries.
During these 7 years, heading the Domaine de la Vougeraie, I also participate in the development of several projects for the Boisset group outside of Burgundy.
-Le Clos Jordanne in Canada,Viva Progresso in Uruguay,Château de Pierreux in Brouilly, in the Beaujolais, Château de la Croix Martelle in the Minervois, Languedoc, De Loach in Sonoma, California, Veranda in Chili, Schloss Halbturn in Austria.
Beginning of 2006, I found I was in need of a new challenge again. It was time to emancipate and create my own business. In Burgundy I created The Pascal Marchand's signature range. I am also developing my micro-negociant, garage range of wines based in Nuits-St-Georges. I choose small lots among growers that I know well, who I trust, whose wines I have enjoyed for many years and who have a working ethic in harmony with my beliefs: Respect for the vines, the fruit, the wine and traditional craftsmanship with low oenological interventions. I proceed to a careful selection to find the best Villages, Premiers Crus and Grands Crus and express a genuine expression of these exceptional terroirs.
Other projects include
France - Domaine Jean Féry & Fils, in Echevronne. Since 2006, I oversee the vineyards, vinify and sign the wines from the Domaine Jean Féry & Fils in Echevronne. For me this association is mostly important. Jean-Louis Féry, native of the village, is a lawyer in Lyon leaves me carte blanche to fully implement my philosophy.
Australia - With my partner Jeff Burch we created the label Marchand & Burch based in WA. From the first vintage we produced, we got a lot of recognition, our Chardonnay 2007 being rated by James Halliday, best Chardonnay in Australia.
Chile -Veranda, in Biobio Valley. This was a project I started with Boisset, as a joint venture in between them an the Ibanez family from Chile. When I left the Boisset group in 2006, the Chileans bought back boisset’s shares and offered me to stay on board as the chief winemaker.
I am also consulting for various estates internationally.
-Freestone Winery, in Sonoma Coast in California
-Tawse Winery, in Niagara in Canada, named best winery in Canada this year.
-Dos Andes, in Chile and Patagonia Argentina.
-Prancing Horse Estate, in Mornington Peninsula
I cannot imagine not working with wine. I was just driven to do it! Something,I still can’t understand and define exactly, a kind of an inner force that had been with me from my beginning. It becomes more and more evident to me it had always been there. Something melted into my life and attracted me to Pinot Noir before I saw any vineyards.
During my career I received often scores above 90 from press like Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate, Steve Tanzer’s The Fine Wine Review, Allen Meadow’s, The Wine Spectator and others.
The Wine Spectator even putted the Clos des Epeneaux 96 in 19th position in their top 100 list in 1998, ahead of all other wines from Burgundy. I was particularly proud of that one, my youngest son being born at harvest time that vintage.
Michel Bettane, the most influential French wine journalist, declared the Clos des Epeneaux as the global benchmark of modern Pinot Noir.
All these things I mention above are quite flattering for the ego, but to me there is nothing more important and gives me the fuel to continue then when somebody tells me about the pleasure and great time they had trying a wine I have made."
