2016 Charmes Chambertin Vieilles Vignes
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Tasting notes
(aging in 50% new oak; this fruit was picked at 12.2% potential alcohol and chaptalized to 13.2%): Deep red with ruby tones. Brooding aromas of black cherry, flowers and licorice complicated by a sexy animal nuance. Very concentrated, utterly seamless Charmes with complex soil tones to go along with its flavors of dark fruits, licorice and flowers. A wonderfully mouthfilling wine without any impression of weight. Finishes with aristocratic tannins and explosive rising floral length. This has all of the elements to make a great bottle, possibly among the best Charmes-Chambertins of Bachelet's career (his first vinification was in 1983).
Critic scores
Jancis Robinson MW
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
There are six barrels of the 2016 Charmes-Chambertin Vieilles Vignes Grand Cru this year since the grand cru was touched by the frost, albeit to a lesser degree than in Chambertin. It has a very pure and complex bouquet, with scents of black cherry and wild strawberry, cold wet slate, something almost like wild moorland. The palate is medium-bodied with very fine tannin, perfectly judged acidity, almost gentle on the entry and then nonchalantly fanning out as it goes along. There is absolutely nothing grandiose about this Charmes-Chambertin, but the finesse and the poise, not least the extraordinarily long aftertaste is something to behold. Nobody makes Charmes-Chambertin like Denis Bachelet.
Normally eight barrels, just six in 2016. 50% new oak. Serious stuff. Layers and depth. Extremely rich and concentrated but still with a sweet liqueur sort of depth. Rich and one of his best Charmes. Fabulous roundness and layers and length. Clean and long. Lots of sweet charm but still very refreshing. (JR)