Gevrey-Chambertin “Petite-Chapelle” 1er Cru 2015

Wine description for Gevrey-Chambertin “Petite-Chapelle” 1er Cru 2015 by Trapet Père & Fils

Character

A Gevrey-Chambertin of the understated school: elegance rather than power, fine-grained tannins and aromatic depth instead of opulence. Dark cherry, spicy undergrowth notes and a mineral coolness carry the wine; with a good ten years of ageing, the 2015 vintage is now entering its most beautiful phase. The 12.5% vol. alcohol underscores the slender, transparent style for which Jean-Louis Trapet stands.

Terroir & Origin

Petite Chapelle lies as a 1er Cru directly below the Grand Cru Chapelle-Chambertin – one of the most privileged addresses on the Côte de Nuits. Calcareous soils, in many places of fossil marine origin, give Trapet’s wines their saline-chalky signature. The domaine in Gevrey-Chambertin looks back on seven generations: today Jean-Louis Trapet cultivates 18.5 hectares, including three Grands Crus. His principle “People pass away, the land remains” expresses the humility with which terroir finds its voice here.

Grape Variety & Vinification

Pure Pinot Noir, the noblest red grape variety of Burgundy. Jean-Louis Trapet has worked biodynamically since 1996 (Demeter-certified since 2009), making him one of the pioneers of this movement on the Côte d’Or. In the cellar, the rule is observation rather than intervention – gentle gravity flow, restrained use of new wood, partial whole bunches. The result is wines of rare purity and transparency that reveal their origin without disguise.

Food Pairings

The wine’s fine structure calls for dishes with depth, not brute force: partridge with truffle jus, braised leg of lamb, duck breast with sour cherries or a plate of wild mushrooms tossed in butter. It also shows itself to be assured alongside a mature Époisses or Comté. Decanting is worthwhile – half an hour of air opens up the aromatics without disturbing the silky texture.