Chappelle-Chambertin

Noticeably a fuller purple colour than other wines from the Rossignol-Trapet stable, this Chapelle-Chambertin has a really stylish and graceful nose. The fruit coats the mouth, without massive density, and the stems have been used to provide freshness - as this wine always produces soft ripe fruit. This is a great success in 2010.
Jasper Morris MW, Burgundy Director

Several years down the road since they switched to biodynamic farming, the Rossignol brothers are looking at ways to fine-tune the finished product with a few tweaks in their cellar work. They have been careful to aerate their excellent 2010s throughout the vinification process to avoid any problems of reduction and to soften the end palate of the wines. Some stems were used again this year, albeit less than in 2009.

Most of the vines are in the En La Chapelle section, with a quarter in Les Gémeaux. The latter has deeper soil, and its component is rounder and riper. Blended with En La Chapelle’s cooler style, this becomes a high- toned, succulently fruity red, with such a bright line of freshness. This is really energising. Drink 2025-2035.
Adam Bruntlett, Wine Buyer

The domaine was created through the marriage of Jacques Rossignol of Volnay with Mado Trapet from a noted family in Gevrey-Chambertin. Their sons Nicolas and David Rossignol have managed the domaine since 1990, moving subsequently to biodynamic farming. The first experiments started in 1997 with their Chapelle- Chambertin, followed by conversion of the whole domaine in 2004. Vinification includes a small proportion of whole bunches, while the trend in recent years has been to look for an increasingly elegant expression of Pinot Noir. It’s a remarkable cellar this year, with brothers Nicolas and David radiating calm and understanding. As elsewhere, this was a very challenging vintage for them, especially in Beaune, the village Gevrey vines and Le Chambertin. Containing the mildew required an incredible amount of work by hand. Their biodynamic strategy seems to have paid off though; after a slow start to the range, the impression was of incremental qualities. Intensity, not density. Nicolas and David referred us to Nono, Love and the Soil by Gaston Roupnel, a novelist born in Gevrey.

A fine, medium-deep red-purple, the colour and bouquet are both more restrained than Latricières, before some attractive dark cherry notes start to arrive. This is supple, refined and very long indeed, even more than the Latricières. The finish is truly astonishing. Drink 2025-2035.
Jasper Morris MW, Wine Buyer

Nicolas and David Rossignol report a healthy crop in quality and quantity, though a little reduced in the Grands Crus. They began on 7th September, using around 50 percent whole bunches, and avoided any punching down during vinification as there was no need to search for extraction, preferring a daily pumping-over and aeration. As ever there is only a modest use of new oak and sulphur levels are kept low. They have made unquestionably brilliant wines this year.