Domaines Leflaive : Charmes-Chambertin Grand cru Leflaive & Associés 2010

Characteristics and tasting advice for the Charmes-Chambertin Grand cru Leflaive & Associés 2010 from Domaine Leflaive

Tasting

Color
The color reveals a deep ruby red hue with black-cherry highlights, reflecting the concentration of the vintage.

Nose
The nose unveils a complex bouquet dominated by aromas of red and black fruits, notably cherries and raspberries. Subtle notes of licorice, sweet spices and forest floor complete this aromatic palette. With aeration, hints of violet and forest moss gradually emerge.

Palate
On the palate, this grand cru captivates with its remarkable balance of power and elegance. The tannic structure is refined and silky, enveloping flavors of ripe red fruits and cherries. The bright acidity, characteristic of the 2010 vintage, brings freshness and precision to the whole. The finish lingers with persistence, revealing mineral and spicy touches.

Food and wine pairings
This Charmes-Chambertin Grand cru is an ideal match for roasted meats, especially duck, poultry in a red-wine sauce, or feathered game. It also pairs perfectly with a rack of lamb in a crust, dishes featuring wild mushrooms or black truffles. Soft cheeses with bloomy rinds also make a harmonious pairing.

Serving and cellaring
The Charmes-Chambertin Grand cru Leflaive & Associés 2010 is best enjoyed at a temperature between 14 and 16°C. Opening the bottle 30 to 60 minutes before serving allows the wine to fully express itself. Decanting may prove beneficial for bottles showing a natural deposit.

A full-bodied Burgundy grand cru of great finesse

The estate
Domaine Leflaive is one of Burgundy’s most prestigious estates, whose history dates back to 1717 when Claude Leflaive settled in Puligny-Montrachet. The estate in its current form was established between 1910 and 1930 by Joseph Leflaive. A pioneer of biodynamic viticulture in Burgundy under the impetus of Anne-Claude Leflaive in the 1990s, the estate has been run by Brice de la Morandière since 2015.

The vineyard
Charmes-Chambertin is the largest of Gevrey-Chambertin’s grands crus, covering around 27.54 hectares in the Côte de Nuits. Set on an east-facing slope, the vineyard enjoys optimal morning sunshine. The soils display a complex geological composition, with brown soils that are partly alluvial on the upper section and clay-limestone on the lower slopes. The rocky subsoil of Bathonian origin in the upper part and the Jurassic marls in the lower part, rich in marine fossils, give the terroir its singularity and its ability to produce wines of great finesse.

The vintage
The 2010 vintage in Burgundy began under challenging weather conditions, with a harsh winter followed by a cool, wet spring and summer. The months of June and August were particularly worrying, with risks of fungal disease. However, a spectacular shift occurred in mid-September with the arrival of a northerly wind and sunny, dry, cool conditions. This timely change enabled the grapes to reach optimal ripeness while preserving high acidity. Yields were naturally limited, favoring aromatic concentration. This vintage is now considered one of the decade’s most successful for Burgundy red wines.

Winemaking and aging
This Charmes-Chambertin Grand cru Leflaive & Associés 2010 is crafted using methods that respect the fruit and the terroir. The grapes are harvested by hand at full ripeness and then rigorously sorted. Winemaking favors the natural expression of Pinot Noir, with carefully controlled extraction to obtain silky tannins. Aging takes place in oak barrels, allowing the wine to develop aromatic complexity while preserving the purity of fruit characteristic of the 2010 vintage.

Grape variety
100% Pinot Noir