Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru 2016 - domaine Taupenot-Merme

Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru 2016 — Domaine Taupenot-Merme

This Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru 2016 from Domaine Taupenot-Merme embodies one of the most elegant, deep and sensual expressions of Gevrey-Chambertin. An emblematic Grand Cru of the Côte de Nuits, Charmes-Chambertin gives a broad, perfumed and silky Pinot Noir, here driven by the freshness, precision and balance of the 2016 vintage: black cherry, Morello cherry, raspberry, cassis, plum, faded rose, violet, fine spices, liquorice, noble earth, forest floor, fine leather, black tea and a long mineral finish.

Domaine Taupenot-Merme is renowned for precise, elegant wines that remain faithful to the terroirs of the Côte de Nuits, with an approach focused on fruit purity, balance and tannic finesse. Charmes-Chambertin is distinguished by a more velvety and enveloping expression than some of Gevrey’s more austere crus, while retaining depth, structure and ageing capacity. The 2016 vintage brings freshness, aromatic definition, mineral tension and remarkable finesse of texture.

Terroir: Charmes-Chambertin, breadth and nobility of Gevrey-Chambertin

The Charmes-Chambertin climat is one of the historic Grands Crus of Gevrey-Chambertin. Its clay-limestone soils, marls and stony elements give Pinot Noir an expression that is generous, perfumed and structured. The cru is renowned for its balance between Gevrey power, silky texture, deep fruit and mineral length.

At Domaine Taupenot-Merme, Charmes-Chambertin translates into a wine of great elegance, at once fleshy, precise and deep. The terroir brings a noble tannic frame, aromatic richness and a persistent finish. In 2016, the freshness of the vintage highlights fruit purity, tannic finesse and the clarity of the climat, giving a Grand Cru that is more slender, distinguished and classical.

Tasting notes

Appearance: deep ruby with garnet and purple reflections, bright, elegant and still well sustained. The colour reflects the freshness of the 2016 vintage, the nobility of Pinot Noir and an evolution that is still gradual, moving towards greater aromatic complexity.

Nose: fine, deep and expressive, with black cherry, Morello cherry, raspberry, cassis, plum, red and black fruits, faded rose, violet, fine spices, liquorice and noble earth. With aeration, nuances of forest floor, fine leather, black tea, cocoa, sweet pepper, bark, light truffle and limestone minerality may appear with evolution.

Palate: broad, silky, fresh and elegantly structured, with precise fruit carried by fine tension. Flavours of black cherry, Morello cherry, raspberry, cassis, plum, spices, liquorice, fine earth, forest floor and leather unfold with depth, supported by fine, ripe and well-integrated tannins. The finish is long, mineral, lightly saline and spicy, with an impression of charm, precision and great Burgundian persistence.

Expression of the 2016 vintage

The 2016 vintage in Burgundy produced red wines that are fresh, precise, balanced and often remarkably expressive, with great fruit purity and a structure built for ageing. In the great terroirs of Gevrey-Chambertin, this year particularly highlights the nobility of Pinot Noir, tannic finesse, mineral tension and palate length.

Today, this Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru 2016 remains young but is beginning to reveal fine complexity. It can already express itself after measured aeration, but will gain further depth with time: forest floor, fine leather, truffle, black tea, cocoa, melted spices, noble earth and mineral nuances should gradually join the purity of red and black fruit.