Chambolle Musigny
Chambolle-Musigny boasts 24.24 hectares of Grands Crus across two vineyards. The wines are graceful and charming. They are not the deepest-coloured of Burgundies, nor the most structured, but they deliver a sensuous fruit and a laciness of texture which are entirely satisfying. Le Musigny represents the finest of all Grands Crus excepting perhaps some of the monopolies of Vosne-Romanée.
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Michele & Patrice Rion,
For laying down,
The nose here – all floral perfume and wispy, chalky minerals – speaks clearly of this vineyard’s prime location up the slope in Chambolle. The purple fruit is initially quite rich, before the chalk and energy of Les Cras kicks in to carry the finish along with floral notes and tension. Drink 2021-2027.
Patrice explains that the hard work they did at the start of the year in pruning short and carrying out a severe de-budding, as well as a little green harvesting on younger vines, paid dividends in terms of avoiding excessive yields and consequent dilution. The dry and warm conditions towards the end of the season allowed them the luxury of choosing when to harvest, in fact beginning on 9th September. Patrice compares the vintage to 1979 and 1989, highlighting the wines’ impeccable balance and freshness (the latter he prefers over power) as particular strengths. Our notes indicate whether the wines are domaine or négoce bottlings.
Patrice explains that the hard work they did at the start of the year in pruning short and carrying out a severe de-budding, as well as a little green harvesting on younger vines, paid dividends in terms of avoiding excessive yields and consequent dilution. The dry and warm conditions towards the end of the season allowed them the luxury of choosing when to harvest, in fact beginning on 9th September. Patrice compares the vintage to 1979 and 1989, highlighting the wines’ impeccable balance and freshness (the latter he prefers over power) as particular strengths. Our notes indicate whether the wines are domaine or négoce bottlings.
Michele & Patrice Rion,
For laying down,
A blend of three vineyards – La Taupe (above Combe d’Orveau), Les Babillères and Aux Croix (both on the flatter soil) – gives a nicely balanced reading of Chambolle. There is floral character, plenty of midpalate weight and generosity, alongside cool, crunchy minerals. An accessible Chambolle. Drink 2020-2025.
Patrice explains that the hard work they did at the start of the year in pruning short and carrying out a severe de-budding, as well as a little green harvesting on younger vines, paid dividends in terms of avoiding excessive yields and consequent dilution. The dry and warm conditions towards the end of the season allowed them the luxury of choosing when to harvest, in fact beginning on 9th September. Patrice compares the vintage to 1979 and 1989, highlighting the wines’ impeccable balance and freshness (the latter he prefers over power) as particular strengths. Our notes indicate whether the wines are domaine or négoce bottlings.
Patrice explains that the hard work they did at the start of the year in pruning short and carrying out a severe de-budding, as well as a little green harvesting on younger vines, paid dividends in terms of avoiding excessive yields and consequent dilution. The dry and warm conditions towards the end of the season allowed them the luxury of choosing when to harvest, in fact beginning on 9th September. Patrice compares the vintage to 1979 and 1989, highlighting the wines’ impeccable balance and freshness (the latter he prefers over power) as particular strengths. Our notes indicate whether the wines are domaine or négoce bottlings.
For laying down,
The 2017 is a blend of Thibault’s five village Chambolle vineyards, but in 2018 he expects to make three cuvées. The vines are at least 50 years old and 40 percent whole-bunch was used. There is lots of pretty, floral fruit here and an intensely silky, seductive texture that is impossible not to love. Drink 2020-2026.
Thibault continues to keep himself busy, having bought more vineyards in Moulinà-Vent. In the Côte d’Or he waited until 13th September to pick, feeling that the skins were not ripe until that point. He describes the vintage as transparent, where each vineyard’s identity is clearly visible, and one where those with large yields will not be able to hide. In the Beaujolais, hail was again a significant factor, reducing the average yield for those wines he made to an eye-watering 8hl/ha. The damage was so bad that it cost more to pick the grapes than he will make on the wines, but he felt a duty to harvest and vinify the fruit. With careful use of the vibrating sorting table, he was able to carefully select only the clean fruit and has made exceptional wines.
Thibault continues to keep himself busy, having bought more vineyards in Moulinà-Vent. In the Côte d’Or he waited until 13th September to pick, feeling that the skins were not ripe until that point. He describes the vintage as transparent, where each vineyard’s identity is clearly visible, and one where those with large yields will not be able to hide. In the Beaujolais, hail was again a significant factor, reducing the average yield for those wines he made to an eye-watering 8hl/ha. The damage was so bad that it cost more to pick the grapes than he will make on the wines, but he felt a duty to harvest and vinify the fruit. With careful use of the vibrating sorting table, he was able to carefully select only the clean fruit and has made exceptional wines.
Louis Jadot,
For laying down,
This wine is a bin-end, discounted by 20%.
The 2016 Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru Les Baudes, which comes under the Domaine Gagey label, has a vibrant and fresh, rose petal-scented bouquet with plenty of Morello cherry and crushed strawberry scents. The palate is medium-bodied with fine-grain tannin, good tension even if it is just missing some complexity toward the finish, as if running out of ideas two-thirds of the way through.
Neal Martin,The Wine Advocate (winter 2017)
The 2016 Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru Les Baudes, which comes under the Domaine Gagey label, has a vibrant and fresh, rose petal-scented bouquet with plenty of Morello cherry and crushed strawberry scents. The palate is medium-bodied with fine-grain tannin, good tension even if it is just missing some complexity toward the finish, as if running out of ideas two-thirds of the way through.
Neal Martin,The Wine Advocate (winter 2017)
For laying down,
For laying down,
A pale purple, this has an elegant, stylish, deep cherryfruit bouquet. With plenty of weight on the mid-palate, this is very sensual, respecting its Chambolle origins.
Thibault has made a fine and elegant range of 2014s, with little sign of the reduction which has sometimes prevailed here in the past. He has employed a fair proportion of whole-bunch fermentation, sending a crack team of pickers into the vineyards ahead of the rest to select the healthiest bunches. Another interest at the moment lies in finding the perfect toasting for his barrels, often choosing a minimal approach. We shall also be making a separate offer of Thibault’s brilliant 2014s from his Moulin à Vent estate.
Thibault has made a fine and elegant range of 2014s, with little sign of the reduction which has sometimes prevailed here in the past. He has employed a fair proportion of whole-bunch fermentation, sending a crack team of pickers into the vineyards ahead of the rest to select the healthiest bunches. Another interest at the moment lies in finding the perfect toasting for his barrels, often choosing a minimal approach. We shall also be making a separate offer of Thibault’s brilliant 2014s from his Moulin à Vent estate.