At a glance

Producer

Sylvain Pataille

Region

Marsannay, Burgundy, France

Grape variety

Pinot Noir

Wine type

Red

Body

Medium-bodied and Earthy

Sweetness

Dry

Typical price

€110-150 ($115-160 USD, retail, as of 2024; auction prices may be higher due to rarity)

Tasting profile

Highly aromatic Pinot Noir: dark cherry, wild raspberry, violet, rose petal, earthy minerality, subtle spices, youthful grip. Elegant floral and savory notes.

Evolution: Primary red fruits evolve to forest floor, mushroom, dried rose, sous-bois, with earthy minerality. Silky palate develops tertiary finesse.

At peak: Supple, perfumed, with polished tannins and layered complexity; Burgundian finesse and intensity, signature of Pataille's top Marsannay plots.

Structure

Acidity

Bright and energetic (typical of Marsannay, Pataille's mineral-driven style)

Tannins

Firm but fine-grained, youthful

Alcohol

13.5% (approximate; varies by vintage but usually restrained)

Aging potential

High for Marsannay; 10–15 years easily, up to 20+ years possible in top cellars

Drinking window

Peak drinking

2029 to 2046

Optimal window

2026 to 2049

Current status

Ready to drink

Current condition

Primary and intense, high structure, with promising depth

L'Ancestrale is the flagship Marsannay cuvée from Pataille, sourced from the oldest, most prized parcels. The wine's concentrated terroir expression demands aging to harmonize structure and aromatics. The robust 2021 vintage, with its freshness and balance, promises a long window of exceptional drinkability (7–15 years), revealing greater depth and subtlety as it matures.

Food pairing

Roast duck, guinea fowl, wild mushroom risotto, truffled poultry, aged Comté or Gruyère. Handles earthy and aromatic dishes with finesse.

Serving

Serving temperature

16°C / 61°F

Decant

Yes (1 hour) — To allow youthful aromatics to unfurl, soften structure, and reveal subtle complexity. Freshly opened bottles can be slightly reductive when young.

Sustainability

Sustainability score: 9/10

Old-vine, low-input viticulture; manual harvest; minimal intervention in winery. Native cover crops, no herbicides or synthetic pesticides, biodiversity focus. Some biodynamic preparations. Use of renewable energy in the winery, lightweight glass bottles (~500g).

Sylvain Pataille is renowned in Burgundy for his deep commitment to organic and increasingly biodynamic farming. The domaine uses regenerative agricultural practices, protects soil health, avoids synthetic chemicals, and fosters biodiversity in the vineyards. Natural winemaking with indigenous yeasts, little/no added sulfur, and gravity-flow cellars reduce energy and chemical use. The winery uses lightweight eco-glass for bottling, further cutting carbon emissions. While international shipping is standard for Burgundy, Pataille's overall production practices are top-tier in sustainability, earning a score of 9/10—one of the region's leaders.