2006 Chapelle Chambertin

Autumnal notes of dry and smoldering foliage rise from the glass of Trapet 2006 Chapelle-Chambertin, with spiced cherry behind that. The tactile impingement of spice and dried fruit character here seem to point toward the effects of hail, as does the degree of finishing astringency. For now, there is a strength of fruit, underlying carnal matter, and stimulating spice to render this appealing, but I would want to monitor its first years in bottle carefully for signs of premature drying or emerging impurities. Jean-Louis Trapet began picking September 23, and utilized two sorting tables: one for de-stemming by hand (80-90% per wine, radical by estate standards) and one for removing under-ripe or tainted clusters and berries. The fruit all came in between 12.5-13.5% potential alcohol and was not chaptalized. Given the amount of damage control necessitated by hail, this was certainly a challenging vintage for a Gevrey grower determined to stay within the guidelines of a relatively recently-adopted biodynamic regimen, a fact that seems to be borne out by the bottled results. A Patrick Lesec Selection (various importers), Paris Fax 011 33 4 66 37 67 23