Olivier Merlin (new)
Domaine Olivier Merlin
La Roche-Vineuse, Mâcon, France
Théo, Paul and Olivier Merlin
Olivier Merlin is an old-school wine maker who prides himself on crafting non-manipulated wines with low yields in the Mâconnais. He’s also really fun to hang out with. (What else could you ask for?)
Olivier’s wines are proof that wine from the Maconnais can be serious, long-lived, and delicious. Since starting his domaine in 1987 with his wife Corinne, he has worked tirelessly to promote the wines of the region, and amidst trends that have come and gone, Olivier can be considered as one of the region’s benchmark producers. Their two sons, Théo and Paul, officially joined the estate in 2017 with the new management of old vines in Mâcon, Saint-Véran and Pouilly-Fuissé. We’re excited to see what the new generation has up their sleeves.
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The Merlins do not come from a winemaking family. Olivier and his wife, Corinne started in 1987 going through the process of renting vines, sharecropping and then buying grapes. In 2005, they found an old family (the Arcelin estate) in La Roche-Vineuse with old-vine holdings and purchased their vineyards since they did not have any heirs. As a result, they got to work with great genetic material. In 2006, a new purchase in Moulin-à-Vent, part of which is in the La Rochelle region, was secured.
Their two sons, Théo and Paul, officially joined them at the end of 2017 with the new management of old vines in Mâcon, Saint-Véran and Pouilly-Fuissé.
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The Mâconnais is a succession of valleys with plenty of limestone, where elevation plays a key role. The highest vineyards in the region are found in the south. Viré Clissé has much more clay, and alluvial influences, the vineyards face East, south-east, and thus as a result one encounters the richest of Mâcon’s classified vineyards from there.
As one proceeds down the Saône the soils are so rocky that viticulture really is the only use. In and around Vergisson the vineyards generally face south, and you find pure chalk in many instances.
The first mention of Chardonnay in Burgundy actually comes from the abbey of Saint-Sorlin, which was eventually renamed La Roche Vineuse due to the secularization policies of the French Revolution.
The geography of the Maconnais allows for a greater variety of exposures. With an eye on the continued threat of global warming, they are planting for the future; experimenting with north expositions.
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Currently overseeing 11.26 hectares, a significant percentage of which is old-vine material. Olivier thinks that is very unique and an important part of the identity of his domaine. In order to preserve the genetic material of his parcels, he doesn’t plant any clones. He wants to keep the diversity of his genetic material and propagates all the vines that are not sick.
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100% de-stemmed for most cuvées but Moulin à Vent has whole cluster and semi-carbonic maceration, 10-25% new oak.