2018 Marie-Thérèse Chappaz Grain Nature Champ Dury

Community Tasting Notes (1) Avg Score: 83 points

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  11/15/2021 - forceberry wrote: 83 Points

  100% biodynamically farmed Gamay and Pinot Noir from the Champ Dury parcel in the north-facing Charrat vineyard in Fully. Fermented spontaneously, vinified without any sulfites. 13,5% alcohol.
  
  Quite dark, almost fully opaque yet not extracted blackish-red color with a slightest hint of youthful blue. The nose feels dry, savory and somewhat gamey with slightly dull aromas of earth and smoke, some sweet dark berries, light inky notes, a little bit of vague nuttiness, an acetic hint of smoke and a touch of tobacco. Contrasting the savory nose, the wine feels ripe, soft and quite mellow on the palate with flavors of sunny dark fruit, almost marmaladey black raspberry, some acetic notes of VA, a little bit of juicy black cherry, light strawberry notes, a hint of tart cranberry and a touch of gamey meat. The overall feel is quite gentle, thanks to the medium-plus acidity and easy, light tannins. The finish is wild, funky and quite long with almost nonexisting tannins and crunchy flavors of brambly raspberries, tangy salinity, some acetic VA, a little bit of salted nuts, light inky notes, a hint of crunchy cranberry and a touch of sweet dark fruit.
  
  A surprisingly soft and solar red wine that is quite a bit on the "nature" side of things, as the label suggests. A total antithesis to the clean, fruity and surprisingly polished Dôle - another Chappaz Pinot-Gamay blend - that was even somewhat oaky in style, this feels like the same wine, but made to cater to the naturalist palates. Although the wine is still perfectly enjoyable and fully drinkable, it is a bit too funky and acetic to my preference. Even though I'm not a fan of oaky flavors, I must admit I enjoyed the oakier yet cleaner Dôle more than this Gran Nature that is slightly more natty than what I'd prefer. Based on its rather soft and accessible overall style, this doesn't really feel like a wine that calls for cellaring - drink earlier rather than later.

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