Charmes Chambertin VV, Domaine Bachelet 2010

**Note: from a .44 ha parcel of 90+ year old vines situated directly across from Chambertin; the yields are so low and the vines so exposed that Bachelet says that he always harvests this parcel first**
Relatively prominent wood spice does not dominate the otherwise very ripe and densely fruited cassis and plum suffused nose that also displays plenty of Gevrey style pungent earth, underbrush and a hint of the sauvage. The intense earthiness continues onto the textured, seductive and mouth coating broad-scaled flavors that brim with dry extract, indeed so much so that the firm tannins are relegated to the background on the beautifully well-balanced and hugely long finish. This very serious effort is at once classic Bachelet in that the palate impression is suave and harmonious yet the wine is also the epitome of a textbook Charmes.

Bright red-ruby. Pure, perfumed aromas of black raspberry, blackberry, violet, licorice and pepper, plus a hint of molasses. Silky, dense and very intense, with a distinctly tangy high-toned quality giving lift to the sappy berry, dark chocolate and violet flavors. Piquant, classy wine with a very long, firmly tannic finish that delivers mounting length. The highest-toned of these 2010s at 0.55 grams per liter and the sexiest today. But this really needs at least eight to ten years of cellaring. These vines were originally 100 year old but there has been substantial repiquage (the replacement of dying or virused vines with new ones) in recent years.