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Frederic Esmonin Chambertin-Clos de Bèze(2003)
- Winery:
- Frédéric Esmonin
- Varietal:
- Pinot Noir
- Region:
- France > Burgundy > Gevrey Chambertin
- Type:
- Red Wine
- User Tags:
- red grape, hay, dried, berry, dense, yield, cabernet sauvignon, woody, serve chilled, noteworthy
- Burghound
- Issue 17, Jan 01, 2005
- 91/100
-
May 2008
- André and Frédéric Esmonin describe the 2003 vintage as a great millésime. We love this vintage and while yields were pathetic at only 20 hl/ha, it gave us great raw materials. We began picking on the 30th of August when it had begun to cool down, which was important as the majority of grapes were brought in between 15 and 25° C, rather than well over 30° C which was the case for those who harvested earlier. Sugars were so good that we had essentially no chaptalization and we acidified only the barest amount. All of our grands crus saw 100% new wood yet the wines are so dense that the wood absolutely read more...does not mark them. The berries were so tiny and the skins so thick that these wines are even denser than the 20 hl/ha yields would suggest. And the best thing about this vintage? There is so much baby fat that the wines will drink well young yet age for years. The wines had been bottled just before my late October visit. (Atherton Wine Imports, Atherton, CA and Monsieur Touton Selections, New York, NY; John Armit Wines, Howard Ripley, La Reserve and H&H Bancroft, UK). Note: from purchased must Generously oaked with noticeable toast notes combine with ripe, spicy and nicely expressive red raspberry and cherry pinot aromas that lead to slighter finer, rounder and sweeter flavors than those of the bigger and more rustic Clos de Vougeot. The finish is long, concentrated and sappy and while this is not a particularly elegant wine, the underlying raw material is impressive. (hide)
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