GEVREY CHAMBERTIN

Localization : Côte de Nuits
Total vineyard area : 533.5 ha. of which 86 ha. Premier Cru and 87.5 ha.. Grand Cru
Area in production : 484,1 ha
Variety and types of wine : 100% pinot noir producing red wine only.
Classification : Villages, Premier Cru and Grand Cru

Premier Cru "Climats" :

Les Cazetiers : with 0.25 ha., Bouchard Père & Fils owns 2.5% of this Premier Cru which gives an intense bouquet of red and white berries mixed with a more animal note and a slight touch of oak. Gevrey Chambertin les Cazetiers Domaine Bouchard Père & Fils is rich, superbly full bodied and robust and has excellent potential for ageing.

Grand Cru "Climats" :

Chambertin : with an estate of 0.15 ha., Bouchard Père & Fils produces under 700 bottles of this precious wine called the wine of the Emperor, because Napoleon held it in such high esteem. The name appeared for the first time on a 13th century label under the name "Campus Bertini" from the name of Bertin who was supposed to have planted and cultivated a vineyard here and obtained wines of the same quality as their honourable neighbour, the Clos de Bèze. Considered "the best" along with Clos de Bèze, this Grand Cru possesses to the utmost degree all the qualities of which a perfect wine is made, body, colour, bouquet and finesse" (Docteur Lavalle, Histoire et Statistiques de la vigne des Grands Vins de la Côte d'Or, 1855). The vines are planted at an altitude of 275/300 metres on a gentle slope composed of chalk with red, ferrous marl. This soil gives birth to wines with an intensely deep colour. On the nose, they admirably express ripe blackcurrant and liquorice, the blackcurrant and vanilla evolving with time to more complex aromas of spice and leather.

Chambertin Clos de Bèze : In the year of 630, the Duke of Amalgaire, founder of the Abbey of Bèze, gave some land to the monks at the abbey, where they planted vines, which explains the origins of the name. The wines from the 15.40 ha. of Chambertin Clos de Bèze are allowed the appellation Chambertin; but the reverse is not possible. This Grand Cru has body but without excess, a bouquet of intense aromas and magnificent flesh. It is a sumptuous wine with exceptional ageing potential.

Chapelle Chambertin : A total surface area of only 5.5 ha. some of which are tended by Bouchard Père & Fils, this Grand Cru is situated on chalky clay with traces of potassium, phosphorus and iron. A perfect combination of grace, vigour, strength, finesse and silkiness, this wine has exceptional aromatic length on the palate. Several years laying down are indispensable to bring out its unique generosity.

Charmes Chambertin or Mazoyères Chambertin : as Gaston Roupnel wrote (La Bourgogne, types et coutumes, 1936), this Grand Cru "possesses vigour, a fiery temperament and a very bright colour". Situated on very pebbly, shallow earth with a very high chalk content, Charmes (it is rare to find this Grand Cru under the name of Mozoyère) is perfectly adapted to the production of wines of extreme finesse.

Griotte Chambertin : over only 2.70 ha., is recognized as one of the most attractive of the Gevrey Chambertin area. A strong personality, a typical example of this smooth Grand Cru. The ground is very stony.

Latricières Chambertin : The wines from this area are renowned for the intensity of their fruit and floral aromas with touches of liquorice and spice. The first traces of this appellation go back to the 16th century and the origin of the name comes from the lack of fertility and harshness of the ground (De Tricae meant infertile ground). On this hard land with a thin layer of earth, only the vine could work a miracle, hence its nickname "small miracle".

Mazis Chambertin : Here the ground is clay with some chalk, traces of potassium, phosphorus and iron. Mazis is both complex, smooth and opulent and can compete with Chambertin.

Ruchottes Chambertin : from an area of 1.06 hectares this Grand Cru is renowned for its softness. Good aromas of spice and fruit with a more tannic finale, it is velvety, fine and elegant.

More generally, the wines of Gevrey are known and recognized for their exceptional structure, their strength and their aromatic expression. Deep in colour, they are often reminiscent of blackcurrant and blackberries so typical of Pinot Noir, coupled with more animal notes and hints of liquorice which develop with age.

Vines were to be found in Gevrey Chambertin as early as AD 630, thanks to the monks at the Bèze abbey who, at that time, received a gift from the Duke Amalgaire and planted a vineyard which gave birth to the famous Clos de Bèze. In 1874, by royal order, the Village of Gevrey was allowed to add to its name that of the celebrated "Climat" of Chambertin. At the foot of the hill, the Village is surrounded by several valleys who have given their names to certain Premiers Crus as, for instance, the côte Saint Jacques or les Lavaux.

Photographic credit : Dominique Pernin