The northernmost part of the Golden Hill, located on the slopes near the city of Dijon, was famous for its liquor production in the Middle Ages, and was once an important production area in Burgundy, called Cote Dijonnaise, which has mostly disappeared and become suburbs, residential areas, and even cemeteries, and the few that remain are rebuilt to the south, only a few vineyards in the villages of Chenove, Marsannay-la- Cote and Couchey. Together they form the northernmost village-level appellation of the Night Hill region, Machane, which mainly produces red, white and pink wines, which is the only village-level appellation in Burgundy that allows the simultaneous production of all three wines.
Due to its proximity to the city centre, the vineyards are gradually surrounded by the city, but the quality and popularity of the wines have increased as more and more star wineries such as Denis Mortet, Meo-Camuzet-, Philippe Charlopin and Joseph Roty have invested in the vineyards.
The pink wine of Pinot Noir became the signature wine of Marslane
Founded quite late, Machane originally wanted to join the Cote de Nuits Villages, but became independent in 1987 after being rejected. In fact, because the vineyards that produce pink wine are more relaxed, almost like the Bourgogne vineyards, Massane is composed of two village-level appellations, Massane, which produces only red and white wine, and Marsannay Rose, which produces only pink wine.
The appellation area covers more than 500 hectares, but only about 230 hectares of vineyards are mainly planted with Pinot Noir, and there are also about 35 hectares of Chardonnay, which is the most important liquor producing area in the Night Hill region, mostly in a refreshing, leaner and simple style.
Burgundy pink wines are often made with Gaimei grapes, and in Marchane, all Pinot Noir, began to be produced in the 20s by the village Clair Dai (the predecessor of the current Bruno Clair winery), and the pink wine of Pinot Noir became the signature wine of the region. Most pink wines are more expensive, but they are also more delicate, refreshing and delicious, with cherry aromas, and are quite worth drinking. However, it is now gradually focusing on the production of red wine.
The slopes of the Golden Hill slope are low near Mashane and cut through multiple anticline valleys, often with cold winds blowing directly from the mountains, and the grapes ripen more slowly. Most of the fertile areas on the slope edge and bottom of the slope can only produce pink wine, while the vineyards that produce red wine are mostly located in warmer areas in the middle of the slope.
Perhaps thanks to climate change, Pinot Noir here tends to mature more easily than it did a decade ago, and has a thicker body. But in any case, if compared to the Fixin red wine from the south, it is softer and smoother, mostly medium-strong, not so deep and powerful, but often more palatable and easy to drink.
Stars Winery in Machane
There is currently no Grade I park in Masane, but the wineries in the village are relatively united, and since 2005, they have been planning to rank the first class. Most wineries are now accustomed to bottling a portion of the vineyard individually, the most well-known of which are Clos du Roy in the village of Chenove and Longeroies north of the village of Marsannay-la-Cote, the most likely to become a first-class garden.
The most important star winery in the village is Bruno Clair, and the Chateau de Marsannay owned by Patriarche, the most vineyards, DomaineBart, Jean Fourrier, Olivier Guyot, Hugenot and Sylvain Pataille, and the two Bouvier wineries, Regis bouvier and Bouvier Rene Bouvier, the former opened after his son's independence, the latter is now run by another son, Bernard (now relocated to a new wine cellar in the village of Jevieri).