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Domaine François Bertheau Chambolle-Musigny 'Premier' Premier Cru(2003)
- Winery:
- Francois Bertheau
- Varietal:
- Region:
- France > Burgundy > Côte de Nuits > Chambolle-musigny
- Type:
- Red Wine
- User Tags:
- dried, hay, style, color descriptors, sophisticated, character, complete, fruit, fine, ruby
- Burghound
- Issue 21, Jan 01, 2006
- 89/100
-
May 2008
- Complete responsibility of managing this 6.18 ha domaine has fallen to François Bertheau after the recent death of his father Pierre. Effective with the 2004 vintage, there will be a new label and the name will change from Pierre Bertheau et Fils to François Bertheau. He describes the 2004 vintage as very fruity and pure with fine transparency and detail. We didn't have much trouble with mildew but there was a bit of oidium but not really enough to worry about. We did have some hail in Chambolle, which meant we had to sort pretty carefully because I can't stand that dry taste that comes read more...with hail damage. We started picking September 24th and continued to the 28th. Yields were reasonable at between 35 to 40 hl/ha with good sugars at around 12.5%. We did 100% destemming and in terms of vinification, it was like most vintages. The present plan is to bottle in February and March. (Kermit Lynch, Berkeley, CA; Liberty Wines and H&H Bancroft, UK). Note: all of the Bertheau '04s display very light ruby color and while it's deeper than rosé, they have nothing in common with the deeply colored style that is very popular today. As I have pointed out many times, color with pinot-based wines is a false indicator of quality and while the Bertheau style is for ultra elegant and pure wines, there is plenty of pop and punch behind them. Note: a blend of Groseilles, Baudes, Noirots and Gruenchers Bigger, richer and fuller if not more elegant with a lovely finishing sweetness on the rich if not lively middle weight flavors. The finish is both sappy and dusty with a mouth coating character to it yet the overall character is more a wine of finesse, which is not common in this vintage. Also recommended. (hide)
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