2006 Chambolle Musigny

The Charlopin 2006 Chambolle-Musigny - from Les Herbues and Les Gamaires, near the Morey line - is scented with smoky black tea, cocoa powder, musk, and lightly-cooked cherry, all of which elements follow onto a satisfyingly sweet and intriguing, rather grainy-textured palate. This finishes emphatically, if with a slightly rustic tanninity which I suspect may follow it through life. It would be prudent to revisit this in the course of 2010 to assess its further potential, although that it will be impressive in its way over the next 3-4 years is pretty much assured. Philippe Charlopin is known for his outgoing personality, which applies also to the wines of his domaine spread over more than two dozen appellations, an astonishing nine of which are grand crus. Elevage is long here, and when I last tasted his 2006s with Charlopin in Spring 2008, none had yet been bottled. Various importers, including The Country Vintner, Ashland, VA 23005; tel. (804) 752-3670 and Elite Wines, Lorton VA; tel. (703) 339-8150 and Wine Imports, Ltd., San Francisco, CA; tel. (415) 451-2520