Marsannay's Domaine Collottee Offers Serious Value Burgundies

It's not easy finding good Burgundy for cheap.

But some of the less-heralded villages offer solid deals. Marsannay, the northernmost village Burgundy's Cote-de-Nuits, is home to plenty of delicious Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. While not as exciting as the wines of Gevrey-Chambertin or Morey St.-Denis, these wines are also a whole lot cheaper.

Winemaker Philippe Collotte. Credit: Weygandt Metzler Imports.

As is always the case (even more so in Burgundy), producer and vintage are key. I've been tasting Domaine Collotte's Marsannay's for years now, and this is one hell of a reliable producer. (They also make some delightful wines from the Fixin and Chambolle-Musigny appellations.) Bright but creamy and nutty Chardonnays, crisp but juicy Pinot Noirs, these wines almost always deliver for the price. The 2014 vintage seems pretty solid, although like most Burgundy vintages, winegrowers didn't have it easy.

A recent tasting of Domaine Collotte's 2014 Marsannays proved to me yet again that these wines are a good bet in the $25-$35 range.

I tasted these wines sighted at my favorite wine shop in DC, Weygandt Wines, which imports them.

2014 Domaine Collotte Marsannay Blanc - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Marsannay
$25

Rich tropical aromas with a nice creamy texture, but bright acidity keeps it balanced. Peaches, honey, minerals and cinnamon notes. Quite pleasant for the price. (87 points)

2014 Domaine Collotte Marsannay Champs Salomon Blanc - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Marsannay
$30

Lots of aromatic complexity. A richly textured wine, but it shows vibrant acidity. Rich but zesty with complex flavors of pears, spiced apple, almond and honeyed tea. From a single-vineyard of 40-year-old vines in marl soils. A whole lot of white Burgundy goodness for $30. (89 points)

2014 Domaine Collotte Marsannay Le Clos de Jeu - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Marsannay
$33

Lovely spice, roses, herbs and cherries on the nose. Bright and crisp palate with dusty acidity. Tart red cherries and currants sing nicely alongside the spice and herbal notes. (88 points)

2014 Domaine Collotte Marsannay Champs Salomon - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Marsannay
$33

Darker core of fruit on the nose and palate (darker currants and cherries), but still lots of bright floral tones. Earthy, mineral-driven, spicy, floral, the tannins are quite structured and the acidity is refreshing, the balance and strength of different elements mean this has a lot to show with years in the cellar. (90 points)

2014 Domaine Collotte Fixin Les Crais de Chene - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Fixin
$35

Structured quite nicely but still plush with the dark, saucy fruit. Earth, floral, spicy, concentration is nice on the finish. I’d like to retaste in a few years. From 30- to 40-year-old vines in clay and limestone soil. (88 points)