1992 Chambolle Musigny Les Charmes

Possessing an extra measure of concentration, the superb 1992 Chambolle-Musigny Les Charmes is a classic example of a top notch wine from Chambolle-Musigny. It combines rich, harmonious, ripe black and red fruits with a super elegance and finesse. Supple, full-bodied, never heavy or tannic, this smooth-as-silk wine is so concentrated that some powerful tannin is nearly hidden by the wine's gorgeous richness. It can be drunk now, but 2-3 years of cellaring is recommended. It should keep for 20+ years. I have said it so many times that it may seem redundant, but if you missed it in my 1990 tome, Burgundy, Lalou Bize-Leroy stands virtually alone at the top of Burgundy's quality hierarchy. Because she is a perfectionist, and because she has had the courage to produce wines from low yields and bottle them naturally, without fining or filtration, she has been scorned by many Burgundy negociants, and even by the proprietors of other top domaines. Not only are they jealous, they are frightened of Bize-Leroy because they fear increasing pressure for lower yields and bio-dynamic farming. Anyone who loves great Burgundy, must realize that her wines embarrass much of what is produced in Burgundy. For the fifth consecutive vintage since she launched her wines from the Domaine Leroy (formerly the Noellat estate), Lalou Bize-Leroy has made the highest percentage of Burgundy's greatest wines. Although not as phenomenally concentrated and extracted as her 1991s and 1990s, the 1992s are more closely aligned to her sumptuous 1989s. All of Domaine Leroy's 1992 Burgundies are shipped in temperature-controlled reefer containers and are distributed carefully by the American importer, Martine's Wines, San Rafael, CA; tel. (415) 485-1800.