2016 Charmes Chambertin
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Tasting notes
The 2016 Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru has a refined, floral bouquet that seems quite open at the moment, pure wild strawberry mixed with raspberry preserve, crushed stone and light rose petal scents. The palate is medium-bodied with ripe tannin, quite linear in style with a touch of spice towards the persistent finish. I feel this will soon begin to close up, so wait for several years. It has to prove that it will live up to the billing it showed out of barrel. Tasted at the Domaine.
Critic scores
Average Score
Jancis Robinson MW
Neal Martin
More reviews and scores
(from millerandé 70-year-old vines in Mazoyères; vinified with 20% whole clusters): Good dark red. Dark cherry and spices on the nose, lifted by a violet high note. Very rich, savory, generous wine with dark fruit and saline mineral notes. More masculine and structured than the Griottes, as well as more concentrated. But in a somewhat tougher style, with its tannins accentuated by a peppery quality. Incidentally, the Ligniers lost 25 of their plants in this vineyard in April of 2017 when a car crashed into their parcel.
The 2016 Charmes Chambertin Grand Cru comes from Mazoyères and includes 25% new oak and one-third whole cluster fruit. It has a sensual bouquet that is as much Charmes as Mazoyères, well defined and very elegant, not a million miles away from Denis Bachelet in style. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin, a fine thread of acidity, very pure in style with a saline finish that gets the taste buds going. This is a wonderful Charmes Chambertin that should give 20 years of drinking pleasure.
On Mazoyères. A car, driven during daylight by a 20 year old (on the phone), crashed into the vineyard in April 2017 damaging 25 vines. Insurance pay for five years’ production. (Another car in his Morey vineyards did less damage.) Rich and fresh. Very successful with focus and charm. Lovely freshness and texture, very pure. (JR)