Pinot Noir was far from front of mind when Jeff and Amy Burch purchased their first Western Australian vineyards in Margaret River back in 1988. Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and Shiraz were most promising for the region and they had little experience with Pinot Noir nor intention to add it to their wine portfolio, but not for long.
The late 1980s were exciting times for Margaret River and the locals would often taste wine together. Jeff would host tasting groups at his Yallingup beach house which started with serious wine tastings and discussions generally followed by dinner and an after party. It was a time of discovery in the new world of wine for Jeff and Amy. Regions and wine styles from around the world, such as Champagne, were explored and it was during one of these events that the seeds were sown for new Pinot Noir vineyards and a foray into Burgundy.
Regular visitors to these tastings were Kevin, Di and Vanya Cullen and during one such tasting Kevin brought a bottle of Domaine Mongeard-Mugneret from one of the finest vineyards and vintages – 1978 Richebourg. Jeff was instantly hooked and by 1990 he was travelling through Burgundy to discover all he could about Pinot Noir.
On one of these trips Jeff was introduced to Pascal Marchand. Montreal born and raised, this French Canadian had an enviable resume and despite being relatively young was already winemaker at one of Pommard’s leading wineries, Domaine Comte Armand. He later moved to Domaine de la Vougeraie. Jeff and Amy soon purchased a property located next door to Marchand in Monthelie for a future base during regular trips to Burgundy.
It was on one such trip where Marchand & Burch was born. Marchand had left Domaine de la Vougeraie and was enjoying some rare spare time so Jeff and Pascal cooked up an international plan to collaboratively craft exceptional Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, both in Burgundy and Western Australia’s Great Southern region, which was slowly emerging as a new hot spot for cool climate wines. During the 2007 vintage, Pascal visited and found some exceptional Chardonnay fruit for their new label. But for Pinot Noir he was less impressed “I don’t like your Pinot Noir at all. We’ve got a long road ahead.”
Jeff and Amy already owned the Mount Barrow vineyard located in an elevated location near Mount Barker, which is one of the highest vineyards in Western Australia. This included Pinot Noir vineyards to which Pascal and Jeff have since added experimental plantings of three clones chosen by Marchand to make a total of ten different Pinot Noir clones. Marchand created quite a stir at Perth airport when he first imported live vines of these clones on his trip for the 2007 vintage which then spent the next two and a half years in quarantine before being planted out in the Mount Barrow vineyard.
On top of the wines made in Western Australia, Marchand & Burch also purchase fruit from a wide range of vineyards in Burgundy to bottle under their Marchand & Burch label, from generic Bourgogne through to the famed Clos de la Roche Grand Cru. Whether sourced from Burgundy or Western Australia, Marchand & Burch provides a rare opportunity to enjoy exceptional Pinot Noirs from the old and new world thanks to this unique collaboration between Jeff Burch and Pascal Marchand.
See all the reviews for the Marchand and Burch range here.
This 100% independent content was published with support from the winery.
