Winemaker Notes
These five vine plots are situated on the northern slope of Gevrey-Chambertin called the “Côteau de Brochon”. Thanks to the small, concentrated berries produced by these plots of old vines, we find here all the richness and fruitiness of a Gevrey-Chambertin, its velvety smooth tannins, its superb freshness and its length on the palate.
Professional Ratings
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Jasper Morris
All the vines are at the northern end of the appellation, from outside the winery through to Brochon. This emblematic cuvée sees 25% new wood and one third whole bunch vinification. Dense purple, with a reserved nose, which is biding its time, nonetheless suggesting that all is in place. The fruit profile sits perfectly on the cusp of red and black, with a touch of liquorice, excellent length, and an admirable finish. I love the reserved quality of this wine, which will develop beautifully in the long term.
Barrel Sample: 92-95 -
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2019 Gevrey-Chambertin Mes Cinq Terroirs is especially elegant and charming in this vintage, bursting with aromas of cherries and raspberries mingled with sweet spices and peonies. Medium to full-bodied, supple and enveloping, with fine concentration and a chassis of powdery structuring tannins that discreetly remind us of this cuvée's Brochon origins on the finish, it's seamless and complete. Best after 2025.
Thin-skinned, finicky and temperamental, Pinot Noir is also one of the most rewarding grapes to grow and remains a labor of love for some of the greatest vignerons in Burgundy. Fairly adaptable but highly reflective of the environment in which it is grown, Pinot Noir prefers a cool climate and requires low yields to achieve high quality. Outside of France, outstanding examples come from in Oregon, California and throughout specific locations in wine-producing world. Somm Secret—André Tchelistcheff, California’s most influential post-Prohibition winemaker decidedly stayed away from the grape, claiming “God made Cabernet. The Devil made Pinot Noir.”
This small village is home to the Grands Crus in the farthest northerly stretches of Côte de Nuits and is famous for some of the deepest and firmest Burgundian Pinot Noir.
Gevrey boasts nine Grands Crus, the best of which are arguably Le Chambertin and Chambertin-Clos de Bèze. As with all of the fragmented vineyards of Burgundy, it isn’t easy to differentiate between the two, which are situated adjacent with Clos de Bèze slightly further up the hill than Le Chambertin. Clos de Bèze has a shallower soil and if you’re really counting, may produce wines less intense but more likely to charm. Some compare Le Chambertin in both power and plentitude only to the prized Romanée-Conti Grand Cru farther south in Vosne-Romanée.
Two other Grands Crus vineyards, Mazis-Chambertin (also written Mazy-) and Latricières-Chambertin command almost as much regard as Le Chambertin and Chambertin-Clos de Bèze. The upper part of Mazy, called Les Mazis Haut is the best and Latricières-Chambertin offers an abundance of juicy fruit and a silky texture in the warmer vintages.
Other Grands Crus are Ruchottes-Chambertin, Charmes-Chambertin, Mazoyères-Chambertin, Griotte-Chambertin and Chapelle-Chambertin.
The most respected Pinot Noir wines from Gevrey-Chambertin are robust and powerful but at the same time, velvety and expressive: black fruit, black liquorice and chocolate come into play. After some time in the bottle, the wines are harmonious with bright and sometimes candied fruit, and aromas of musk, truffle and forest floor. These have staying power.