1996 Charmes Chambertin Tres Vieilles Vignes
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Tasting notes
Good full red. Less fruity on the nose than the 1998 version, conveying strong oaky torrefaction notes of cocoa powder, mocha and coffee; black cherry and dark berry nuances emerge with air. Boasts noteworthy energy and saline minerality in the mouth but not really pliant, in the style of so many wines from this vintage, with its sugar/acid balance a tad disjointed. One feels the year's malic side in the middle palate but the finish, though slightly tart, with a note of crushed acidulated strawberry, displays a bit more give without sacrificing lift. This is still remarkably fresh and in no danger of fading anytime soon but I'm not sure it will have much more to say in the future. All in all, though, very successful for this uncompromising vintage. (13.8% alcohol; 3.2 pH; 32 h/h)
Critic scores
Average Score
The Wine Advocate
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
The layered and still elegant nose reflects the remnants of soft wood notes framing beautifully pure and sappy old vine pinot fruit and delicious and relatively broad flavors that have excellent density in the context of what was not an especially concentrated vintage. This is very stylish juice and decidedly more elegant than either the '95 or the '97 TVV and reminiscent of the outstanding '93. I especially like the purity of expression as well as the extra level of ripeness conferred by the low yields as it gives a seductively textural impact on the palate. This should continue to enjoy a very long, and slow, evolution and while this could easily be drunk now with pleasure, I would suggest waiting another 2 to 3 years before attacking your bottles in earnest. Try from 2018+
Tasted over lunch in London with Mr. Sam, this is a wonderful Burgundy wine from Roty that is only just beginning to motor. The nose builds in intensity with each sip: luscious red cherries, wild strawberry, vanilla and cranberry with superb underlying mineralite. The palate is quite rich and opulent, most like a Clos de la Roche than a Charmes-Chambertin with thick chewy tannins at first. But leave the wine for an hour in the decanter and it soon mellows. Very full in the mouth, perhaps not the most elegant Charmes-Chambertin compared to say, Denis Bachelet, but it has a long future ahead. Tasted August 2011. (NM)
This wine displays a deep black/ruby color and extraordinary aromas of sweet red fruits intertwined with violets and roses. This awesomely deep and ripe wine is dense, velvety-textured, highly concentrated and extracted, and has a full body crammed with cassis, black cherries, bacon, minerals, and hints of cinnamon. Its powerful and profound flavors linger in its long and supple finish. It will require patience from consumers lucky enough to acquire it. Projected maturity: 2006-2015. Bravo! Importer: Alain Junguenet, Wines of France, Mountainside, NJ, tel (908) 654-6173.