Lyne Marchive: “I’m confident on 2014’s success in HK”

Owner of Chablis estate Domaine des Malandes, Lyne Marchive tells db that the current vintage is a classic – and a relief from the challenging harvest of 2013.

At a recent tasting in Hong Kong, the owner of the 28-hectare estate expressed her delight over the 2014 vintage, saying: “It’s a classic, quality Chablis. It will be excellent for keeping but really, it’s drinking very well now. It’s a very typical vintage and much needed after 2013.”

Referring to the somewhat disastrous previous vintage where Marchive lost 35 per cent of production, she continued:

“We had everything, rain, botrytis. It was terrible. It was very difficult initially but it was finally okay. 2013 turned out to be a pleasant wine, round and charming but definitely not typical.

“People here [in Hong Kong] were surprised at how it was but we’ve got a loyal following so it wasn’t so bad.

“However, I’m much more comfortable with how the 2014 is now. It’s balanced, has lovely crisp acidity and I’m confident in how well it’ll do in Hong Kong.

”In my career spanning over 20 years, I’ve never had to bottle so early but I’m glad we did. 2014 is proving a true delight for everyone who’s tried it.”

Marchive has been owner of Domaine des Malandes since 1972 but in 2005 she stepped back from winemaking to focus on business development. After the 2017 harvest, she will hand over the reins to her son, Richard Rottiers who is currently the winemaker in Moulin à Vent.