2001 Charmes Chambertin Tres Vieilles Vignes
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Tasting notes
Medium red. Musky, wild scents of plum, red cherry, coffee, milk chocolate and underbrush, plus a discreet note of tobacco. Surprisingly fresh and sappy in the mouth considering the nose, offering nicely delineated flavors of plum, berries, minerals and dried rose petal. But with its surprisingly firm acidity, this wine is still a bit tight and may yet expand further in bottle. Incidentally, Pierre-Jean told me that this wine resembled the relatively austere 2006 at the beginning, adding that it "was crushed commercially by the 2002," but I find it more sappy than--if not as sweet as--the '06 thanks to its treble notes. This bottle really grew on me as it opened in the glass and showed subtle rising perfume and building sweetness, along with some dustier tannins. Classic Burgundy in a middle-of-the-road style. (13.85% alcohol; 3.3 pH; 40 h/h) (ST)
Critic scores
Average Score
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
Full, deep red with a touch of amber. Aromas of plum, redcurrant, licorice and leather display a smoked-meat element while retaining good lift. Not hugely primary in the mouth but strong acidity gives good verve to the flavors of plum, licorice and leather. The firm, dusty tannins are a bit aggressive, though. I'm not sure if this wine will improve further but it's juicy and lively today. Pierre-Jean Roty noted that it has always been a bit clenched, and mentioned that the family was using a Belgian cork supplier in 2001. I find it marginally disappointing considering this cuvée's outstanding track record for long aging.
Full ruby. Superripe, deep aromas of dark berries and smoked meat, with a resiny suggestion of surmaturite; less pristine than the Griottes. Huge, superconcentrated and opulent, with a liqueur-like ripeness verging on exotic. This has Chambertin-like depths. Extremely long, slow-mounting flavors go on and on. A wine of great brooding power. Still, for the first time in years, I marginally prefer the Griottes, which is more vibrant and scented. Philippe says itÂ’s simply more pleasing today.
As big as a Chambertin with the intensity and sheer flavor authority to match. Sumptuously, even lavishly oaked yet it carries its oak as though it were nothing and there is no doubt that this will absorb the wood completely as there is a mind boggling amount of mid-palate sap and punch and it completely coats the mouth and the persistence is exemplary. The structure is completely buried beneath all the sap and while this should be approachable after a decade, it will drink well for another two. Another great Roty Charmes in a very long line of them. If you can find a few bottles, don't miss them. In short, this is very classy juice.