Domaine René Bouvier : Charmes-Chambertin Grand cru 2016

Tasting notes and recommendations for the Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru 2016 from Domaine René Bouvier

Tasting

Color

The color shows a medium-intensity ruby red hue.

Nose

The nose reveals remarkable aromatic intensity, with notes of violet, licorice and vanilla, complemented by nuances of quince and red fruits.

Palate

On the palate, this wine offers a medium body with dense yet perfectly polished tannins. The structure is fairly firm for a Charmes-Chambertin, with a finish showing lovely grip. The silky texture and fleshy roundness are matched by an impressive length on the palate, notable for its persistence and the elegance of its texture. The saline finish brings a mineral dimension that highlights the expression of the terroir.

Food and wine pairings

This Charmes-Chambertin pairs ideally with duck, goose and game birds. It also matches perfectly with roasted red meats such as beef, especially a pan-seared striploin. Aged washed-rind cheeses such as Epoisses also make an excellent pairing. For game preparations, roe deer with delicate sauces will enhance the wine’s mineral and spicy complexity.

Serving and cellaring

The Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru 2016 is best enjoyed at a temperature between 14 and 16°C. This wine can be enjoyed until around 2030, demonstrating an ageing potential of roughly thirty years.

A Gevrey-Chambertin Grand Cru combining power and Burgundian elegance

The estate

Based in Gevrey-Chambertin, this Burgundy estate traces its origins to the 1950s, when René Bouvier took over the management of the estate created by his father in 1910 in Marsannay. Run since 1992 by Bernard Bouvier, this family-owned estate oversees a 30-hectare vineyard farmed with deep respect for the environment.  This terroir includes 23 hectares dedicated to red wines and 7 hectares to whites. 

The vineyard

Charmes-Chambertin is a 27.54-hectare Grand Cru located directly below the famed Chambertin and Clos de Bèze, in the commune of Gevrey-Chambertin. The terroir is made up of distinctive formations of Jurassic marls and limestones, with a thin layer of topsoil covering a rocky subsoil containing marl inclusions. This singular geology gives the wines a unique finesse and generosity. The clay-limestone soils characteristic of the Côte de Nuits benefit from a south-easterly exposure on slopes between 240 and 280 meters in altitude, creating ideal microclimatic conditions for the ripening of Pinot Noir.

The vintage

The 2016 vintage in Burgundy was marked by small quantities but great quality. Ripe grapes gave rise to deep ruby-red wines offering notes of black fruits combined with touches of violet and spice. The year’s conditions made it possible to produce wines that are round and generous on the palate while remaining true to the expression of their terroir.

Winemaking and ageing

The Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru 2016 is crafted according to the estate’s methods, favoring gentle extraction to preserve balance and the grape’s natural vibrancy. Harvesting is carried out by hand in small 20-kilogram crates. Vinification includes around 50% whole clusters and relies on indigenous yeasts for natural fermentation. The estate uses a gravity-flow system to transfer the musts, thereby minimizing mechanical intervention. Ageing takes place in oak barrels, allowing the wine to develop complexity while preserving the freshness characteristic of the terroir.

Grape variety

100% Pinot Noir