2000 Domaine Claude Dugat Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru

Displaying darker aromas and flavors typical for a Claude Dugat Charmes-Chambertin, the 2000 offers plummy blackberry scents as well as a grapy, black cherry-dominated personality. An intensely flavored, powerful wine, it has superb concentration, grip, and density of fruit as well as an exceptionally long, ripe finish. Projected maturity: now-2011. When asked if he had a preference between the 2000s and 2001s, the self-effacing Claude Dugat responded that “I like them about the same, even though the 2000s have a roundness that particularly appeals to me.” Later in the conversation, when I commented on the firm nature of his 2001s, he said “reaching full (grape) maturity was a real problem in 2001, but these wines will soften considerably at bottling when the CO2 is removed.” Importer: Robert Kacher Selections, Washington, DC; tel. (202) 832-9083