When Hugo and Talloulah Mathurin purchased the property at their (quickly famous) Domaine de Cassiopée, they found themselves in one of the rare parts of Burgundy with still-untapped potential: Maranges.

It’s a story we were reminded of during our terroir class with Brenna Quigley last week. She explained, it was a surprising place to visit: on the map, the Côte de Beaune’s southernmost appellation seems like it should be warm. But in person, you’ll find yourself chilly: there is altitude here, a relatively cool climate where southern exposures are key to ripeness. And as climate change intensifies, cool pockets like Maranges continue to become even more important in the context of great Burgundy.

A set of savvy producers knows this, all firmly rooted with Maranges as their home base while iconic domaines further north have started to dip a toe here, too. Hugo and Talloulah make their wine neighboring the more established brothers Marc and Alexandre at Bachelet-Monnot, and (the original grower to realize the appellation’s potential) Domaine des Rouges-Queues.

Wines from all three (and a set of fascinating, terroir-specific Eau-de-vie de Marc!) are arriving alongside a hit list of Burgundy releases.

Domaine de Cassiopée

After working for Roulot, Leroux and Mugnier, the couple bought a forested 5 hectare property in Sampigny-lès-Maranges which included a farmhouse and variety of vineyards, with a unique split of limestone and granite terroirs. Their first vintage was '20, but they have quickly become one of the most discussed new domaines in Burgundy. The wines are beautiful, complex; a soulful interpretation of their experience with some of the region's most polished estates.

With a deep commitment to mapping their range of terroirs in Maranges, they also took the pomace from their second vintage ('21) and worked with Nicolas Julhès (Distillerie de Paris) to distill a set of three Eau-de-vie, by plot: pink granite, limestone, and a parcel of centenarian vines in limestone. It's fascinating work (the first terroir-specific Eau-de-vie de Marc we've seen!), incredibly transparent expressions.

Domaine des Rouges-Queues

These are inarguably some of the most soulful, pure-fruited wines in all of Burgundy – a must-try for any devotee of French trailblazers. It's the work of Isabelle and Jean-Yves Vantey, who started out in 1996 with just 1ha of vines in Sampigny-Lès-Maranges; now farming 6ha of certified biodynamic vines in and around the appellation. Fermentations lean whole cluster, aging and fermentation is in neutral wood, and SO2 is always sparingly.

Domaine Bachelet-Monnot

Combining family land in Dezize-lès-Maranges, the brothers established their domaine in '05 and have since made a sweeping range of characterful, structured wines across Puligny, Chassagne, Meursault, and of course, their beloved home terroirs in Maranges.

Tasting their 'La Fussiere' in Brenna's class (pictured here) was a reminder: Marc and Alexandre Bachelet are producing some of the best deals in 1er Cru Burgundy. From the highest elevation vineyard in Maranges (350m), where layers of unique red clay and limestone bring a beautiful push and pull between heft and lifted savory notes ("salt and pepper" were a tasting note here). Made with the same precision and care as the terroirs they vinify further north.