Medium, medium-plus colour, yet relatively deep for a villages Chambolle. Soft, but well-defined red fruit over a denser base – there’s a faint caramel edge that disappears as the wine warms in glass, some focus is also lost. Interesting; there’s a dense, concentrated, rather extracted core to the wine which has the merest trace of bitterness that makes the acidity seem a little bright – yet is mineral too. There is good texture from very faintly astringent but finely grained tannin. Relatively long finishing with an extra depth an dimension that normally indicates 1er cru juice. It’s not yet perfectly balanced, but it has plenty of character – keep it cool and it’s a winner!
Chambolle-Musigny
2006 Clerget Christian Chambolle-Musigny
Medium, medium-plus colour, yet relatively deep for a villages Chambolle. Soft, but well-defined red fruit over a denser base – there’s a faint caramel edge that disappears as the wine warms in glass, some focus is also lost. Interesting; there’s a dense, concentrated, rather extracted core to the wine which has the merest trace of bitterness that makes the acidity seem a little bright – yet is mineral too. There is good texture from very faintly astringent but finely grained tannin. Relatively long finishing with an extra depth an dimension that normally indicates 1er cru juice. It’s not yet perfectly balanced, but it has plenty of character – keep it cool and it’s a winner!
2006 Perrot-Minot Christophe Chambolle-Musigny
2006 Comte Georges de Vogüé Chambolle-Musigny
Medium colour. High-toned, very red fruit-driven aromatics with a subtle creamy undertow. The aromas as the glass empties are of super-focused red berry. This is actually impressively concentrated with excellent dimensions of flavour. Whilst clearly an ‘executive’ villages, I can’t bring myself to spend 110 francs a bottle for a villages – I’d go for Clos des Ducs at the same price
2006 Mischief and Mayhem Chambolle-Musigny
A blend of two sites, one of 25 year-old vines planted near the road, the other of 60 year-old vines. The
nose starts rather mineral with hints of cedar and dark fruit – you really need to spend a little time with
the glass for it to open up with fruit, floral and even chocolate hints. This is very sophisticated in the
mouth, showing very fine tannins and a perfect freshness. A good burst of fruit that’s rather classy and
concentrated on the mid-palate. The finish lingers, then a little like the villages Puligny provides a
creamy reprise. It needs a couple of years in the cellar, but it will better an ‘average’ 1er cru.
2006 Arlaud Chambolle-Musigny
The colour is more red than cherry or purple. The first snif did not impress – no focus, dirty oak, no fruit, in fact soupy. The flavours were not dissimilar, no chambolle, just sweet soupy oak – yuk! I try to be fair, so stoppered it up and left it for 2 days: The nose has transformed; red fruit melded to caramel and a faint note of brioche. In the mouth there is also a tightening, some fat and more red fruit. A reasonable extra dimension of flavour in the mid-palate though the acidity needs a little more zip…