Faiveley Charmes Chambertin Grand Cru 1500ml

This charming Grand Cru is situated on the most northern part of the hillside, in the commune of Gevrey-Chambertin. The production areas for the Charmes-Chambertin and Mazoyères-Chambertin appellations are the same and it is the Charmes-Chambertin appellation that is usually specified.

Winemaker notes

Charmes-Chambertin reveals an attractive deep ruby red hue and rich nose disclosing a variety of small red fruits, spice and flowers. This indulgent yet very elegant wine offers silky smooth tannins although it requires a few years in the bottle before it reaches its full potential.

2018

Burghound 92-94: The level of new wood and menthol are borderline intrusive and while it does not dominate the underlying fruit of poached plum and cassis, it would be fair to say that it's not subtle. The succulent and impressively concentrated flavors are almost viscous as well as highly seductive, all wrapped in bitter cherry pit-inflected, youthfully austere and beautifully long finish. This promising effort appears to have more than enough density to eventually absorb the wood treatment.

Wine Advocate 93-95: The 2018 Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru is another of the portfolio's high-points this year, bursting with aromas of wild berries, orange rind, incense and smoked meats. On the palate, it's full-bodied, fleshy and textural, with old-vine concentration, broad shoulders and a long finish. While this is a muscular, serious Charmes, it's also very elegantly rendered.

2019

Burghound 91-94: A pungent nose of reduction and wood is tough to read at present. Otherwise, the rich and caressing yet powerful and relatively robust flavors possess excellent size and weight along with very solid concentration where the abundant dry extract does a fine job of buffering the firm tannic spine shaping the youthfully austere and impressively long finish.

Wine Advocate 93-95: Aromas of cassis, orange rind, smoked meats and loamy soil introduce Faiveley's 2019 Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru, a medium to full-bodied, layered and demonstrative wine that's concentrated and succulent, with an ample core of ripe fruit framed by velvety tannins and lively acids. This is another especially fine cuvée this year.

Decanter 96: Produced from 0.81ha of old vines in the original Charmes section, just underneath Chambertin, where the grapes have delivered an incredibly aromatic wine with ripe plummy fruit, exotic spice, smoke and mineral notes. This has a silky texture, but does not lack the backbone of the best Gevrey Grands Crus. Truly impressive.

2020

Decanter 95: Lush, forward black cherry fruit and hints of rose petals. On the palate, there is a sucrosity typical of Charmes and less alcohol than in 2019. Despite its approachable nature, this is not lacking in structure and should age well. This is from purchased fruit that Faiveley farms and picks itself. The grapes come from a parcel of 0.81ha of old vines in the original Charmes section just underneath Chambertin. The wine is fermented with a good percentage of whole clusters and gently extracted.