December 16, 2022 - Dark ruby-magenta in color with bricking around the edges. Classic burgundy nose of smoky dark-red cherries, spice, forest-floor and florals. Very well balanced on the palate showing sweet-sour dark red berries, minerals, earth, good acidity, fine tannins and a long perfumed finish. Lovely.
January 29, 2022 - We went back and forth on this, but in the end, lightly corked is still corked.
January 14, 2022 - 2019 Visit to Cromwell (Central Otago, NZ): I served the two 2001 Charmes double blind as a pair and they were about as far different as two expressions from one climat can be. Brian picked the vintage for both wines as 2001. A charming, vibrant nose of polished red and black cherries and berries, violet and rose florals, gentle spices, earth and a touch of Gevrey feral. On palate, juicy and fruit-forward. Generous and fine, the rich fruit coats the palate. More structure than appears on first impression. The acid showing a little lower than perhaps I would have expected. A clean, modern Burgundy, showing just a touch of spicy barrique. Refined tannins. Touches of evolution but not secondary. I am confident it will continue to drink well until 2025+. 94+.
June 3, 2021 - Last of 12, opened an hour, perfect cork and level, as good as last October, no fade but little upside now, consistently pleasurable. F+ (18).
October 10, 2020 - 11th of 12, decanted an hour, perfect cork and level, even better and very attractive, still on upward curve. F+ (18).....gluggably good!
April 3, 2019 - 10th of 12, pnp, perfect cork and level, seemingly even nicer than last bottle in 1/18, notable depth, minerality, nuance and balance, a proper meaty Chambertin, mature but bags of life. F+ (18).
January 30, 2018 - 9th of 12, opened 45 minutes, perfect cork and level, little changed from last January, nicer than 02 for current drinking and more to it than the pretty 07. F+ (18).
October 6, 2017 - Deep ruby colour at the core with some light ocre at the rim. A lovely bouquet that changed through the evening. Red to black cherries, florals, spices then herby and dry brushwood, finally more earthy and sous bois, showing a little Gevrey-typical funk. On palate, modern, clean and pure, not at all oaky. Also a precise, leaner style for a Grand Cru, elegant but with sufficient matière, depth and power. The acidity in good balance with the fruit and tannins. Fine grained tannins and a silky mouthfeel. Red cherries, red currants, some plum, earth and underbrush, a little cranberry and a touch of Asian spice. An undertow of Gevrey wild berries and feral notes. Quite detailed. Drinking well now, I'd expect it to drink in this style for the next 10+ years.
July 30, 2017 - Medium center with gentle gradation toward a light rim with some browning. Anise, blackberry, and increasing char on the nose. Increasing higher toned perfumed as it went. Light to medium weight, and it picked up some nice sap after several hours of air. Laid back fruit that is not confected at all with more black cherry than I anticipated from the nose complicated by brown spices, cooler green things, blood orange, and soft soil tones at the end with lightly lingering tannins. This is a beautifully rendered Geantet Charmes. Truly excellent and very emblematic of the weight and profile of the lighter Gevrey Grand Crus. It's been a while since I tasted a 2001, and I must say that I am delighted (and mildly surprised) by how well the acidity has been absorbed and how lively the fruit has remained. I can see this performing well at this level for another decade. Glad I own another bottle.
January 8, 2017 - 8th of 12, pnp, perfect cork and level, another fine showing per my last few notes. Milos pretty well nails it though I don't get the red fruit. This grower slips a bit under the radar in UK, but I find his wines consistently fine.