2011 Chambertin

Remarkably balanced for such a young wine, the 2011 Chambertin flows across the palate with magnificent depth and balance. There is virtually no sensation of tannin at all, while the flavors are remarkably pure and delineated. Dark red stone fruits, wild flowers and spices are some of the many notes that inform the finish in this silky, utterly dazzling Burgundy. Today, the Chambertin looks like it will be accessible before the Bèze.

Bright, dark red. Deep, brooding, very closed nose of black fruits, licorice, violet, spices and pepper. Layered, dense and concentrated, with classic cool-year inner-mouth tension and energy. The black fruit flavors are given a distinctly taut quality by strong framing acidity. Best today on the rising, penetrating, extremely long finish, which saturates the palate with remarkably sweet, harmonious, fine-grained tannins and leaves the salivary glands quivering. Great savory density and verve here without any undue impression of weight. The crop level was just 25 hectoliters per hectare, according to Sebastien Boillot.

Good dark red. Very pure but reticent aromas of dark berries, mocha and sandalwood; smells creamy. Then lush and seamless in the mouth, but with great energy to the flavors of black cherry clafouti, dark chocolate, licorice and pepper. The explosive, slowly mounting finish features substantial fine-grained tannins and black fruit and pepper elements complicated by saline minerality.