A biodynamically produced top Pinot Noir from Burgundy’s most legendary vineyard site – finesse rather than power, with fine-grained tannins and deep terroir transparency.
Bottler: Domaine Trapet, 53 route de Beaune, 21220 Gevrey-Chambertin / France
In the glass
Colour
Deep ruby red with garnet reflections at the rim of the glass.
Nose
Ripe cherry and dark berries, accompanied by floral notes, delicate spice, undergrowth and a subtle mineral touch.
Palate
Dry and precise, with silky, fine-grained tannins, vibrant freshness and a long, profound finish.
Character
Pure elegance – no powerhouse, but a wine of rare purity and aromatic depth that lets its terroir speak.
Pairing
Wild fowl such as pigeon or partridge, beef fillet with truffle jus or a rich mushroom gratin.
Notes
From partly century-old vines across three plots of Chambertin; produced biodynamically (since 1996), vinified by Jean-Louis Trapet in the seventh generation with whole bunches and no more than 50 per cent new wood.
Tasting note
Character
A Burgundy of almost aristocratic restraint. Jean-Louis Trapet sees himself as a companion to the wine, not its master – and that is precisely how this Chambertin presents itself: aromatic depth rather than opulence, fine-grained tannins rather than brute force. Cherry, forest berries, delicate spice and that cool minerality which distinguishes great Pinot Noir wines from mere fruitiness. A wine that does not speak loudly, yet resonates for a long time.
Terroir & Origin
Chambertin – the name alone leaves Burgundy lovers speechless. The Domaine Trapet Père & Fils owns just under two hectares here, spread across three plots with some century-old vines. The estate itself is a piece of viticultural history: as early as the 1880s, Arthur Trapet grafted vines onto American rootstocks, thereby saving Burgundy from phylloxera – illegally at the time. Seven generations later, Jean-Louis continues this legacy in Gevrey-Chambertin, true to the family credo: people pass away, the land remains.
Grape Variety & Vinification
Pure Pinot Noir (Spätburgunder) – the grape variety that responds more sensitively to terroir here than anywhere else in the world. Since 1996, Jean-Louis has farmed the vineyards biodynamically, Demeter-certified. In the cellar, gentleness is the highest principle: for the Grands Crus, 50 to 100 per cent whole bunches are used, while new wood is limited to a maximum of 50 per cent. The result is a wine of rare purity that lets its terroir speak – dry, with a moderate 13.0% ABV.
Food Pairings
A Chambertin of such finesse calls for dishes of similar nobility: partridge or pigeon roasted on the skin, duck breast with cherries, rack of lamb with a herb crust or Bœuf bourguignon – the classic homage to its homeland. It is also a choice of great stylistic assurance alongside truffle dishes or aged Époisses. The 2008 vintage has now reached a maturity in which fruit and tertiary notes of forest floor and undergrowth interlock in a fascinating way.
