This domaine gets a lot of good press, though from what I’ve seen it’s for their whites – let’s see what a red looks like…

2008 Jean-Claude Bachelet, St.Aubin 1er Derrière la Tour
The nose starts with quite a lot of sweet toasty oak, eventually there’s a higher toned sweetness that’s not particularly oak-based. Given time (totally blind) I could be convinced by the aromas that this a white wine, with a Meursault-style gingerbread note in evidence. In the mouth the first impression is of a rather thin wine but there is quite some intensity welling up. Good acidity with a faintly sweet medium finish. In the end this is a very tasty drop, but also a highly stylised drop of wine that talks of barrels, not of St.Aubin – it could be from anywhere – well not quite anywhere but you get my drift; all of which leaves me disappointed.
Rebuy – No

I suppose anniversaries often require a little over-consumption, that being the case we started with Pol Roger’s ’96 Rosé; not exactly pink at this age, but also not with the line of oxidation that our last bottle showed – this was my last one, but a good one. Next, call it an amuse bouche, was a half-bottle of Ghislaine’s 2008 villages before the main course, her Charmes.

2008 Ghislaine Barthod, Chambolle-Musigny
Good colour. The nose starts in a good way and just keeps getting better; adding dimensions of violet flowers and eventually a raspberry and recurrent impression. Energy and acidity in fine balance with a melange of red fruits. Good in the finish too – this is very lovely right now.
Rebuy – Yes

2008 Ghislaine Barthod, Chambolle-Musigny 1er Les Charmes
Similar in colour to the villages, but the nose has more depth and dimension – there is an almost jellied quality to the black and red fruit – very lovely – heavier than the villages but not overweight. In the mouth there is likewise more dimension and impact, but there is no fat or padding to distract – such lovely acidity, and tannin that I had no inclination to search for. Nothing in the slightest ‘facile’ about this ‘Charmes; intensity, some minerality and an overall package that captivates. Bravo!
Rebuy – Yes