Friday, February 19, 2010

GEVREY CHAMBERTIN-THE MOST COMPLETE WINES IN BURGUNDY




Gevrey Chambertin located on the Cote de Nuits has more acres under vine in the Cote d’Or and more famous individual vineyards than any other village in Burgundy.

Because of it’s famous vineyards, there are more producer living off the that name rather than the quality. This is true at the village level and even among the Grand Crus. While in all of Burgundy, knowledge of the producer matters more than the vineyard, it is even more important in Gevrey Chambertin.

Sitting on a terrain made up of clay and limestone gravel the wines are typically, fuller, deeper in color, firmer in texture and more tannic than its neighbors. They take time to develop, but eventually become the most complete wines in Burgundy with great structure, complexity, and rich velvety fruit.

They boast eight grand crus, the most famous being Chambertin and Chambertin Clos de Beze followed by (in order of quality) by Mazis Chambertin, just a step below that of Chambertin and Clos de Beze, Latriciere slightly less intense but silky, Ruchottes intense, but more elegant while Griotte, Charmes, and Chapelle still firm but with aromatic, fragrant fruit. The commune also boasts almost thirty premier crus with Cazetiers, Lavaut-St. Jacques, Varoilles, and Clos St. Jacques arguably the equal to some of the Grand Crus.

Many consider Chambertin as the most complete vineyard only matched by Romanee_Conti for its completeness and intensity. Clos de Beze is qualitatively on the same level although somewhat less powerful.