Tasted in La Chapelle-Vaupelteigne with Romain Bessin, 06 April 2022.
Domaine Bessin-Tremblay
11 rue des Cours
89800 La Chapelle-Vaupelteigne
Tel: +33 3 86 42 46 77
More reports for Domaine Bessin-Tremblay
The obvious news for this 2020 vintage is the update to the domaine name. For the last couple of vintages, the domaine name had father and son together but since the retirement of Jean-Claude, Romain wanted to bring his mother’s maternal name to the fore, as the vines of the domaine came from her ‘Tremblay-side’ of the family and Romain is now the 5th generation of this branch.
Romain on this year’s frost:
“For the frost this year it’s really too early to tell. Certainly, some buds have been lost to the frost, mainly on the Saturday night, and next Saturday looks like it might be complicated too, so let’s see…”
Romain on 2020:
“2020 brought a satisfying volume except, probably, for our Forêts – it was here where the hydric stress was felt the most. We are very happy with the vintage; it was dry and early ripening but almost no rain. Harvesting was from 27 August but with degrees that were lower than in 2018 and 2019, so we think better balance than those vintages – much as we like them!”
The wines…
Usually one of the top domaines that I visit each year – no change in 2020 – and I bought some…
The Chablis was bottled in December and all the other cuvées in February:
2020 Chablis
December bottling. DIAM for this but only this cuvée – and for a few years now.
Thats got a nice vibration – such a very attractive nose. Incisive, bold, plenty of structure here – I’d wait 12 months. But a beautifully put-together wine. Simply excellent and beautifully mineral finishing.
Broader and more aromatic, a beautifully perfumed nose. Ooh – now we are talking – directly more of everything, super-satisfying. Gorgeous on the finish – great villages.
The neighbouring parcel to the domaine’s Forêts. All barrel elevage, none new, a melange of sizes.
Not as full but a finer nose, perfumed with fine clarity. So mouth-watering, fine energy. Bubbling with a citrus intensity. Another great wine, juicy wine – and gorgeous… I bought some!
2020 Chablis 1er Les Forêts
Half wood, half tank elevage.
Width but fewer high tones – there’s aromatic depth here though. Wide, intense, a little more visibility to this wine’s structure. Certainly drink the Montmains now – or the VV – while waiting for this one. Clearly excellent though.
Vines located in the heart of Fourchaume. Elevage was 30% barrel and 70% tank.
A little more vertical and a lot more higher-toned nose – nice. Wide, intense, structured, slightly less austerity but such an insistent style that you should also wait for this one. Super shape and presence – a great wine! And very long…
This cuvée missing in 2016 and 2017. Vines also located in the heart of Fourchaume, here the cuvée name reflects the, once, previous owner of the plot. Elevage the opposite of the last with just 30% in tank and 70% in barrel.
Here I find a little less perfume but more purity and clarity to these mineral aromas. So mouth-watering, and just a bit more accessible too – more the energetic style of the Montmains but with a hint more structure. Extra complex in the finish – bravo.
40% barrel in this case.
Higher tones and more of them – a nicely broad nose. Ouch, that’s good! Intense, never fat but an obvious step up in concentration. Then a finish that just stays – wide and haunting. Great grand cru – bravo in 2020!