2012 Chambolle Musigny Les Amoureuses
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Tasting notes
Tasted blind at the annual "Burgfest" tasting in Beaune. The 2012 Chambolle Musigny 1er Cru les Amoureuses from Domaine Robert Groffier was perhaps the biggest, and I should add, pleasant surprise of this marathon tasting. Whereas once I felt the wines could be over-extracted and too alcoholic, here was a wine that exuded elegance, finesse and terroir. It has a well-defined bouquet, raspberry and black berry fruit intermingling with black truffle and sous-bois scents. The palate is very "serious" on the entry, saline on the entry with touches of bitter cherry, brambly black fruit and a little tar. There is certainly very fine structure here and superb balance, although patience will be needed. What a fabulous example of the vintage. Bravo Nicolas Groffier!
Critic scores
Average Score
Neal Martin
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
(25% whole clusters): Bright medium red. Deep but reticent aromas of wild red berries, red cherry, cocoa powder and mint. Sweet and plush on entry, then savory and perfumed in the middle, with slightly high-toned raspberry and spice flavors lifted by notes of crushed stone, red licorice and flowers. Boasts considerable volume and density but finishes with a firm edge of acidity and a suggestion of peppery tannins. I would not be surprised if this wine evolved relatively quickly.
(vinified with 25% whole clusters): Deep, bright ruby-red. Withdrawn nose hints at black raspberry, licorice and chocolatey reduction, along with a hint of damp earth. Sweet and very ripe; a bit thick and heavy for Amoureuses but with solid framing acidity. Finishes with a palate-staining wave of fruit but a slightly roasted character.
Hard candy, sweet red berries, cinnamon and mint are all seamless and beautifully integrated in the 2012 Chambolle-Musigny Les Amoureuses. With time in the glass, the flavors become a bit darker and richer, with red and purple tones that gain focus. Today, the Amoureuses comes across as a bit raw and not fully formed, but that is not surprising at this very early stage.
About the producer
Domaine Robert Groffier is based in the village of Morey-Saint-Denis and is famous for having some of the most enviable sites in the Côte de Nuits, including a full hectare within Chambolle-Musigny Premier Cru Les Amoureuses – one of the most fiercely collected vineyards in Burgundy.