The Chambertins, A Fine Wine Tutored Tasting with Jasper Morris MW

Another excellent BBR tasting class.

Jasper Morris presented a full flight of the chambertin grand crus. Vintage chosen was 2007 for it's relative forward style and ripe fruit, low acidity and tannin which he predicts in general is a vintage not build for longevity. Only exception was the mazis from Bernstein which was an 08 as there was no availability. Tasting closed with a few matured vintages including a 2000 chambertin from Rousseau.

All wines were double decanted for 2 hours

• NV Pierre Péters Champagne Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Cuvée de Réserve 90 Points

  France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru

  Gout francaise style, aperitif, precise and focused style. Good acidity, focussed, nice nose but a bit short on finish. 89-90

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The Chambertin Class

• 2008 Olivier Bernstein Mazis-Chambertin 89 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Mazis-Chambertin Grand Cru

  Dark Pinot colour. Nose is herbal, light on the fruit. Good acidity. Has a light feeling to it, lacks density and quality expected of a grand cru in our mind. JM believes this is 5yrs away from drinking age. 88-90 at best at the moment

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• 2007 Domaine de la Vougeraie Charmes-Chambertin Les Mazoyeres 92 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru

  70yr old vines here. Ripe fruit, has a forward feeling to it with light oaky notes. 50% new oak . Softer, fat , rich and round wine lowish in acidity. Definitely a crowd pleaser. Very nice. 91-92 and to start soon

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• 2007 Domaine Dujac Charmes-Chambertin 92 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru

  Light oak on nose, restrained on the nose. Fresh with lots of structure and backbone. Whole bunch fermentation here. A very well made wine and one that can last easily according to JM for 5-8yrs more. 92+

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• 2007 Joseph Drouhin Griotte-Chambertin 91 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Griotte-Chambertin Grand Cru

  Light in colour. Stylish. Lighter, aromatic, leaner and medium weight style wine. Maybe a couple of years away from drinking window. 91

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• 2007 Domaine Ponsot Chapelle-Chambertin 91 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Chapelle-Chambertin Grand Cru

  No oak or sulphur here. Light aromatic on the nose. Surprisingly fuller palate. JM said that to him Ponsot wines are a bit of a mystery as to how they evolve. To us was a good 91, so nice but not special.

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• 2007 Christophe Roumier Ruchottes-Chambertin 94 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Ruchottes-Chambertin Grand Cru

  Deep in colour, richer and very fragrant not he nose. Fruit from the start, complex and delicate. Still very young and needs a good 5yrs to open up. For JM Roumier was among the best producers in 2007( unlike an avg performance in 06). A solid wine and a 94 for us even though very young. Wait and patience.

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• 2007 Domaine Rossignol Trapet Latricières-Chambertin 94 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Latricières-Chambertin Grand Cru

  Full, fat wine, big wine. Less elegance than the ruchottes . Fruit appears later on the palate. JM expects this to most likely evolve into a more herbier, mushroomy wine with age. We loved it. 94+

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• 2007 Bouchard Père et Fils Chambertin-Clos de Bèze 92 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Chambertin-Clos de Bèze Grand Cru

  Burnt rubber nose, reduction. Lean and backward, feels very young. Mint nose. Good balance and finesse but not the level we expected. Maybe in awkward state? 92 and wait.

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• 2007 Camille Giroud Chambertin 95 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Chambertin Grand Cru

  Rich, powerful.Lovely on the nose.Rich wine with a beautiful weight and complexity. Finesse, delicate yet powerful. Long aftertaste . 95-96

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• 1999 Serafin Père et Fils Charmes-Chambertin 95 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru

  Made in a big, full style. New oak but not overpowering and very light oak notes on the nose. extraction, ripe fruit in the mid palate. Good amount of tannin still around ( from vintage but also from the oak according to JM) . Approachable now but this can last another 10 years easily. 95

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• 1996 Domaine Denis Bachelet Charmes-Chambertin Vieilles Vignes 95 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru

  Seriously old vines here some back to 1920s. Decanting recommended here and according to JM one should open these 2 hours ahead.
  Red fruit, high acidity. lush wine. Complex, strctured and super long on the palate. Lovely. 95

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• 2000 Domaine Armand Rousseau Père et Fils Chambertin 96 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Chambertin Grand Cru

  Fresh against all odds. Harmonious is the best word we can use for this wine. With a beautiful long nose and lots of length. No need to go further. 96 and drinks very nicely.
  Very nicely said by Matt Kramer (1990) "Chambertin connotes capillary bursting pleasure". Well said!

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Further to his wealth of information and experience , Jasper Morris is a very good presenter, approachable and this ranks among the best tastings we have been. As a close we give some vintage notes from the man himself

2011 : much like 2007, but with more acidity and tannin. Not great though
2006 : in a weird place and would recommend not touching for another 5yrs
2005: probably the best vintage of his lifetime
2003: not sure it will come close to hopes of people. Difficult
2002: good but nowhere close to the concentration of 2005.
2000: wasn't supposed to last yet it defies all odds and refuses to lie down.
1999: among the finest ever, with big crop and nothing went wrong.