2004 Bouchard Père & Fils Chambertin-Clos de Bèze Grand Cru
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Tasting notes
Good bright dark red. Initially reticent aromas of cherry, cola, flowers, pepper and sweet oak. Dense and fine-grained but youthfully imploded, with a strong stony minerality keeping the red cherry, bitter chocolate and floral flavors under wraps. Finishes very juicy and very long, with intriguing pepper and floral nuances. The recorked bottle 24 hours later showed brilliantly complex aromas and flavors of black raspberry, bitter chocolate, rose petal and minerals and superb sappy persistence. A great expression of soil and a highlight of the vintage. I promise you that I drained the bottle to the last drop.
Critic scores
Jancis Robinson MW
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
Full ruby-red. Superripe, complex aromas of dark berries, violet, licorice, minerals and underbrush. Lush, dense and silky in the mouth but with terrific thrust and a captivating sugar/acid balance. This highly concentrated wine takes over the entire palate. Intriguing soil tones of humus and underbrush add complexity, while firm mineral acids frame and extend the flavors. Wonderfully dense and consistent from start to finish. The fruit here was harvested with a full degree more potential alcohol than that of the Chambertin; this is deeper and finer but not more powerful-analagous to the relationship between the Pommard Rugiens and Pezerolles.
A little bit of oak and flattering on the nose. This one is quite beguiling. (The rest remain aloof.) Really very rich, appetising, sappy fruit with an undertow of ripeness at last. (JR)
About the producer
Bouchard Père & Fils is one of Burgundy’s oldest and most established wine producers. Founded in 1731 by Michel Bouchard, it is the largest vineyard owner in the Côte d’Or with 130 hectares of vines.