Discover Chambertin in six wines
Chambertin is a legend in Burgundy, standing out for its power, full-bodied opulence, complexity, and finesse. Little wonder this Grand Cru was a favorite of Napolean Bonaparte and is affectionately nicknamed the “King of Burgundy”. Its location on relatively flat, elevated, rich terrain, unusual in Côte de Nuits where most Grand Crus are found on slopes, exposes it to ample sunlight which results in its voluptuous masculinity and deeply layered style. Made from the Pinot Noir grape, it is much sought after by wine collectors and connoisseurs, admired for its cellaring potential, when it develops nuance and depth.
Fast facts
Name: “Chambertin” has been in uses since the 13th century. Legend goes that the name derives from “Champ de Bertin”, translating as Bertin’s field.
Location: Chambertin is found in the Côte de Nuits subregion of Burgundy, within the prestigious Côte d'Or region. It is part of the Gevrey-Chambertin commune and one of nine prestigious Grand Crus in the area. Its neighbor is the iconic Chambertin-Clos de Bèze, which often bears its own vineyard name on the label but can also simply appear as “Chambertin”.
Climate and Soil: Chambertin’s soils are stony and well-drained, with a chalky topsoil over limestone and clay. The continental climate, with warm summers and cool winters, causes significant temperature shifts, helping to balance the sugars and acidity necessary for finessed grapes.
Grapes: Pinot Noir is the grape used in Chambertin production. A sensitive black grape, it is famous for producing age-worthy wines with red fruit, earthy, floral, and spice characteristics, vibrant acidity, and firm tannins.
Appellation: Chambertin officially received Grand Cru status on 31 July 1937.
Food pairing: The wine’s power and palate complexity make it a good match with roast lamb, chicken in red wine sauce, game and rib steak as well mushroom dishes and soft-centered cheeses.
Fun fact: In a nightclub scene in the 1951 film “Love Nest” starring Marilyn Monroe, a lead character dismissively describes Champagne as being "for peasants" and chooses Chambertin instead, prompting compliments on his "excellent taste".
Let’s explore the varied expressions of this top appellation in a selection of wines Westgarth Wines has handpicked for you.
Indulge in the wines:
A Burgundy giant, Dujac is renowned for sustainable viticulture and minimal interventionist winemaking, allowing the unique Chambertin terroir to speak. This 2005 showcases the Grand Cru’s distinct character in a blend of fruit from Chambertin and the equally awesome, neighboring Clos de Bèze site. Pure and concentrated red fruit, a touch of spice, and earthy subtly savory hints shine in a meticulously structured, punchy wine with excellent tension, energy, and age-worthiness. Every vintage is unique in Chambertin and the Wine Advocate scored this year 98 points across the appellation.
One of Burgundy’s oldest and highly esteemed producers, Armand Rousseau has built a reputation for age-worthy reds crafted from old-vines vinified with minimal oak and optimal terroir expression in mind. This graceful 2020 Chambertin features spicy dark berry, forest floor, and earthy notes with fine tannins and an exceptionally long finish. This vintage is also a high scorer, receiving 97 points from the Wine Advocate.
Renowned Burgundy estate winemaking and negociant family, Albert Bichot, is famed for its organic viticulture, manually plowed vineyards, and low-yield vines. From its Clos du Frantin domaine in Nuits-Saints-Georges, comes a Chambertin that displays fresh and pure red fruit, spice, and delicate florals layered above a beautifully tense, full mouth that leads to a long, profound finish. Built to age, 2015 was another top-scoring vintage for the Chambertin appellation with the Wine Advocate awarding it 98 points.
One of the Côte de Nuits’ historic estates, Trapet Pere et Fils has nearly 200 years of history behind it and is also renowned for its sister winery linked through marriage in another iconic French wine region, Alsace. The house runs its vineyards entirely along biodynamic principles and is meticulous about trellising methods to enhance fruit quality. This Chambertin from 2014 was made with Pinot Noir from three parcels with 50% whole clusters adding depth and body to a wine with intense florals, earthy, spicy red and black berry plus hints of herbal tea. Powerful with a long, mineral-rich finish, it’s an ideal candidate for cellaring. The Wine Advocate scored Chambertin’s 2014 vintage 92 points, describing it as “outstanding”.
With a reputation for making finessed, modern-style Burgundy Denis Mortet prides himself on never following trends but letting the yield of each vintage dictate how to make each year’s wine. There are no man-made chemicals in the vineyard, hand-picked grapes go through a rigorous double sorting, and new oak is kept to a minimum. The house’s 2017 Chambertin, made from old-vine fruit, is delightfully restrained with red currant, violet, game, and leather all underscored by firm tannins and good minerality. This was another “outstanding” vintage for Chambertin with the Wine Advocate scoring it 93 points.
One of Burgundy’s younger houses, Laurent Ponsot describes its wines as “haute couture”, a reflection of each label’s individuality. The producer is also a big fan of innovative technology that protects the provenance of its wines. Named after the “oak tree” parcel it hails from, this 2020 starts out reserved then opens into intense, smooth red cherry, fresh earth, and wild forest floor notes in a sleek wine with finely grained tannins and an extended, austere finish. This was another “extraordinary” year for Chambertin, garnering 97 points from the Wine Advocate.
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