2012 Chambertin Clos de Beze
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Tasting notes
Full medium red. Cool, aristocratic aromas of cherry, pepper, espresso and medicinal herbs complicated by notes of game, smoky minerals and crushed stone. Utterly seamless on the palate, showing an exotic fruit quality to the perfumed flavors of red berries and flowers. Boasts wonderful energy for 2012: this really glistens on the palate and on the rising back end. A wine of great definition and grip, finishing with noble, smooth tannins and superb sappy length.
Critic scores
Average Score
Neal Martin
Jancis Robinson MW
More reviews and scores
Good deep red with ruby highlights. Superripe, liqueur-like cherry and raspberry aromas are complicated by fig and ineffable spices. Then dramatically more tight and vibrant in the mouth, with urgent minty lift to the perfumed flavors of boysenberry, blueberry and violet. Classically dry, intensely flavored wine with outstanding freshness and palate-staining violet and bitter chocolate perfume. This wine is still a bit unknowable at its dark center but would appear to have a great future in bottle.
A wine of endless layers of flavor, the 2012 Chambertin Clos de Bèze, wraps around the palate with gorgeous depth and pure texture. Sweet tobacco, wild flowers, new leather and succulent red cherries all blossom on the close. The inclusion of 50% whole clusters gives the Bèze gorgeous aromatic lift that works as a counterpoint to some of the richer flavors. An exotic mélange of blue and black-toned fruit, violets, spices and menthol all blossom on the finish. I very much like the intensity here.
55-60% whole bunch, 100% new oak. They have sold this from 2009 onwards. Very intense black fruit compote on the nose. Very rich, splendid and forward. Just lovely now! Really fine and sumptuous with the fine tannins very cleverly hidden underneath. (JR)
About the producer
Olivier Bernstein is among the most successful producers in Burgundy, setting the bar high for the growing number of micro-négociants in the region by producing wines that compete with those of the Côte d’Or’s finest domaines.