Clos de Mez - Morgon Château Gaillard 2017

Marie-Élodie continues to improve year after year without compromising her ideals. It’s a challenge she embraces despite the poor harvests of recent vintages in the northern appellations. Her style has gained in precision, and the finishes are smoother. Marie-Élodie has made no concessions—that’s just not her style! But she has likely softened her approach slightly, opting for less body in favor of a more immediate and refined balance. In any case, the entire vintage brilliantly showcases her originality, and the wines—particularly those from recent vintages—possess a true personality.

The 2017 Morgon Château Gaillard opens with a fragrant bouquet of peonies, orange zest, wild berries, and subtle earthy notes. Medium-bodied to full-bodied, deep and well-structured, with robust yet velvety tannins, lively acidity, and a savory finish, this wine is exceptionally well-crafted.

Hailing from the northeastern part of the appellation, this wine subtly evokes notes of potpourri, Armenian paper, cherries in syrup, and delicate oak. The wine’s structure comes through on the palate, with volume and roundness; the tannins are present but well-integrated. The finish, marked by mineral and oak notes, will require two to three years to mellow.

If there were a sign at Clos de Mez, it would read “Marie-Élodie Zighera, artisan winemaker”! Her vineyard (certified organic in 2019) is divided into two crus, with Fleurie at the center. A passionate advocate of whole-cluster fermentation, she did not purchase any grapes despite the recent hailstorms that damaged her Fleurie vines. Since her first vintage, in 2006, she has evolved toward wines that remain structured but are more approachable. One winter in barrel, one in bulk, and one in bottle—that’s why her vintages seem timeless amid the trend toward easy-drinking wines.