Les Charmes

Medium deep purple, with a lovely sensual nose, this has classical Chambolle succulence, and an impressive depth of flavour. It very much shows the raspberry and cherry flavours of the vintage. Long and fine.

Patrice Rion compares 2014 to a mix of 1979 and 1989 for the aromatics and delighted to have been able to pick a more or less normal-sized crop. He began on 12th September with healthy grapes, reinforced by his system of two sorting tables, one before and one after de-stemming. The amount of new oak has been reduced here, now just 30 percent on most cuvées.

Vivid purple colour with vibrant fruit, richer than the other Rion Chambolles, full-bodied with a bit of wood tannin. A touch of structure behind, all very youthful, this just needs more time in barrel.
Jasper Morris, MW - Wine Buyer

Despite this being a very late season, Patrice compares 2013 to the fruit of early vintages such as 2007 and 2011, but with more stuffing. It also reminds him of 1980, a particularly successful vintage chez Rion. The 2013 crop is a small one though, a touch more than 2012 but less than 2011. They employed two sorting tables, and since the grapes which reached the vats were all healthy, they used less sulphur during vinification.
 

This site was planted in or around 1945. The Rions have used some whole bunches here to balance the softer style of the cuvée, providing more structure and minerality. The raspberry fruit fills the middle of the palate, leading to an exquisite finish. Drink 2022-2030.
Jasper Morris MW, Wine Buyer

With more than 35 vintages under his belt, Patrice Rion considers that 2015 is the finest of his career, offering elegance, acidity and persistence. They began picking on 5th September and finished before the rain which arrived the following weekend. The only sorting that needed doing was to remove any dried-out berries. The yields were acceptable, just 10 percent down in volume on the previous vintage. Unusually, Patrice and his son Maxime have used some whole bunches on certain cuvées, notably the Clos des Argillières and Clos St Marc.

Made from vines plated in 1945, this is a full, deep red, with very plump fruit on the nose and plenty of style. Charmes lives up to its name, with lovely density through the middle and excellent depth; it reminds Patrice of his 2005. Excellent.
Jasper Morris MW, Burgundy Wine Director

Picking began on 24th September through to 5th October, producing a tiny yield in Premeaux after heavy rain during flowering. However, Chambolle survived in places and did go through malolactic fermentation with ease, leaving Nuits-St Georges to be much later. Despite healthy fruit, the crop has been reduced severely, producing as little as 12 hl/ ha in places. Patrice uses 30% new wood on his village wines and 40% for his Premiers Crus. Wines marked as ‘Patrice Rion label’ are officially negoçiant cuvées, but in every case, except the village Chambolle-Musigny, the Rions have done all the vineyard work as well as made the wine.