2011 Charmes Chambertin Vieilles Vignes
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Tasting notes
Full red-ruby color. Lovely musky soil tones complement cherry, animal fur, smoky minerality, wild herbs, molasses and pepper on the nose, along with a bacon fat quality from the barrels. Sweet black fruit and mineral flavors are carrying a full load of smoky bacon fat, giving this wine a Cote-Rotie-like impression. Rather full-blown for a Charmes from Bachelet, holding less in reserve today than I would have predicted a year ago. I'd enjoy this wine between about 2019 and 2025.
Critic scores
Jancis Robinson MW
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
The 2011 Charmes-Chambertin is showing beautifully today. Creamy and resonant throughout, the Charmes is incredibly expressive at this early stage, with generous fruit and tons of pure texture. Silky tannins support the captivating, spherical finish. What a gorgeous wine this is.
The 2011 Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru has a delightful bouquet with complex, mineral rich red currant and raspberry fruit that is linear and focused at the moment. There is wonderful definition as usual. The palate is medium-bodied with a smear of strawberry jam on the entry and then that heavenly mineralite kicks in towards the structure, precise and quite crystalline finish. Awesome. Drink 2016-2030+. When tasting through Denis Bachelet’s 2012s, he invited a run through his 2011s that provided a lucid juxtaposition between the two vintages, while reaffirming the commonly held notion that Denis has an innate ability to transcend the limitations of the growing season. His 2011s are some of the best you will find in the appellation from top to bottom, though in my mind the 2012s are more crystalline and contain more matiere. Here, I have also included two mature vintages of his jewel, Charmes-Chambertin: the 1987 a little gem from a forgotten vintage and the 2004, a potentially great wine besmirched by those seemingly ubiquitous “green meanies.” Importer: A Becky Wasserman Selection, Le Serbet, various American importers, including: Martin Scott Wines, Little Neck, NY; tel. (516) 327-0808; AOC Imports, CA; tel. (415) 279-8708; Toepfer Imports LLC, CO; tel. (303) 818-7640. Also available in UK through Howard Ripley, Berry Brothers & Rudd, Wine Society and A&B Vintners.
Bright, deep red-ruby. Deep, pure aromas of blackberry, griotte cherry, minerals and animal fur. Lush, silky and seamless, with the griotte note accompanied by licorice and mineral nuances. Offers superb volume without any impression of heaviness thanks to its near-perfect sugar/acid balance. Dense, energetic, firm Charmes with chocolatey-sweet, noble tannins and outstanding rising length. Should enjoy at least two decades of life in bottle.