2009 Chambertin
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Tasting notes
Tasted at the Denis Mortet Chambertin vertical, the 2009 Chambertin Grand Cru is a worthy follow-up to the excellent 2008. It has a powerful and opulent bouquet with black cherries, orange zest, redcurrant jus and minerals, but it is its opulence that really comes through. That said, there remains some new oak to be fully absorbed. The palate is very intense and multi-layered with rich dark cherries, blueberry and just a dab of soy. There is lovely purity on what you might well describe as a "glossy" finish, although that will recede with time. This is a great Chambertin from Arnaud Mortet. Tasted January 2016.
Critic scores
Average Score
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
The 2009 Chambertin is drop-dead gorgeous. It possesses gorgeous richness, explosive fruit and beautifully delineated aromatics. Juicy red cherries, flowers, licorice, mint and crushed rocks are some of the many notes that burst from the glass in this heady, exotic Chambertin. All of the elements are beautifully balanced. The 2009 started to close down over the time I followed it, so I wouldn't be tempted to open this anytime soon. Persistent saline notes wrap around the masculine finish.
Very good deep color. Superripe aromas of currant, chocolate, Kahlua and exotic spices, with a hint of molasses (Mortet says the Clos Vougeot is even riper but I find this more exotic on the nose today). Fat and sweet but a bit heavy and undifferentiated. Shows impressive volume and fine-grained tannins but this huge wine's typicity seems to be crushed by sheer ripeness. The 2010 version will be way more satisfying to traditionalists. Incidentally, Mortet believes that his 2009s will quickly close down and then need long aging. He recommends waiting 10 to 15 years on this Chambertin.
Bright red-ruby. Sexy aromas of musky currant, iron and flint. Silky and seamless in the mouth, with enticing game and mineral flavors running straight through to the subtly sweet, fine, very long finish. A spicy element and the wine's bright edge of acidity give it very good grip. This very cool site clearly was favored in 2009.
About the producer
This estate, today with Arnaud Mortet at the helm, makes some of Gevrey-Chambertin’s finest wines. Working with 16 hectares, as well as a few négociant parcels, this property makes perfumed and chiselled Pinot Noir.