2005 Charmes Chambertin Tres Vieilles Vignes
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Full, deep red. Distinctly darker and more medicinal on the nose than the '06, offering aromas of blacker fruits, licorice, menthol, bitter chocolate and espresso; some notes of crushed wild red fruits emerged with aeration. Very densely packed and remarkably primary; considerably less evolved than the 2009, 2008 or 2007. Began supple, fine-grained and light on its feet, with dominant flavors of dark berries, crushed rock and eucalyptus (I was reminded of Chambertin) but shut down hard in the glass. Finishes classically dry and impressively long, with outstanding sappy energy and lingering violet perfume, with the serious firm tannins successfully enrobed by the wine's palate-saturating fruit. An extraordinary, very powerful wine with a great future, but don't make the mistake of drinking it anytime soon. Incidentally, when I brought up the subject of coccinelles as we tasted the 2004 Charmes, Pierre-Jean noted that the estate also saw some ladybugs in 2005, but we certainly don't feel them here. (13.85% alcohol; 3.27 pH; 32 h/h)
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David Schildknecht, Vinous
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
Deep ruby-red. Deeply pitched, wild aromas of black raspberry, game, smoke and Cuban tobacco. Shows a texture of liquid silk, along with uncanny sweetness and depth to its flavors of blackberry, licorice, violet and spice. The spectacular finish features utterly suave, noble tannins and great palate-staining length. This very primary wine is downright creamy today but is sure to shut down in bottle.
From vines said to have been planted in the 1880s, the Roty 2005 Charmes Chambertin Tres Vieilles Vignes announces its distinction a foot away from the glass, with uncanny intensity and clarity of black fruit essences, along with ineffable mineral and animal suggestions. Tactile cinnamon spiciness, bitter-sweet herbs, and black cherry and black raspberry concentrate (fresh, yet with liqueur-like intensity, sweetness and viscosity) saturate the palate, and a dark and rising tide of mineral and carnal flavors meets the fruit and spice in a thunderous finish. There is mystery aplenty here, with the sex appeal well beneath the surface. Philippe Roty and his brother have matters well in hand and are on their way to bottling (as always here, unfiltered) a superb collection of 2005s. That said, this won’t even begin happening until late Spring and some wines may not be bottled until year’s end. (Wines followed above by the initials P.R. are from Philippe’s vines and will be labeled with his name.) Prolonged skin contact and gentle but relentless extraction are the practice here, and in 2005 that has made for Pinots of almost shockingly deep color, abundant and firm but fine tannins, and terrific overall intensity. Also recommended: 2005 Marsannay (85-86+?). Importer: Alain Junguenet, Wines of France, Mountainside, NJ; tel. (908) 654-6173.
Opaque deep ruby. Incredible nose of blackberry, black licorice, black pepper, spices and smoke; an essence of pinot noir's dark side. Offers mindboggling density and solidity, but with its fine grain the overall impression is of sweetness and class. Wonderfully layered, profound wine whose lush tannins are inundated by a wave of blackberry and spices. It's hard even to find Chambertin as good as this. Philippe notes that these vines, originally planted in 1885, are situated in the lieu-dit Aux Charmes, on rock. The crop level in 2005 was just under 35 hectoliters per hectare.