2008 Chambolle Musigny Les Veroilles

The 2008 Chambolle-Musigny Les Veroilles is another marvelous 2008 from Bruno Clair. All of the elements are there in the glass, they just need time to emerge. This is a precise, cool Chambolle laced with the most exquisite of aromatics and a precise, clean finish. A wine of almost painful beauty, the 2008 Veroilles will require patience. Those lucky enough to keep a few bottles in the cellar won’t be disappointed. Anticipated maturity: 2018-2018. This is a beautiful set of wines from Bruno Clair. Every wine I tasted with Clair’s longtime oenologist Philippe Brun was gorgeous from top to bottom. While the top 2009s are certainly superb, the real jewels here are the village level wines which appear to be among the great success stories of the 2009 vintage. I tasted all of the wines from barrel, except the Marsannay and Marsannay Les Vaudanelles, both of which were bottled before the 2010 harvest. In 2009 Clair began harvesting on September 15 and ended on the 23rd. I also tasted a handful of 2008s, from a much later harvest that stretched into October. The handful of wines I tasted from that vintage are equally impressive, and equally worth your time. A Becky Wasserman Selection, Le Serbet, various American importers, including: Martin Scott Wines, Little Neck, NY; tel. (516) 327-0808, Fine Vines, Melrose Park, IL; tel. (708) 343-6702, The Source, San Francisco, CA; tel. (415) 621-6151

Good deep red. Withdrawn nose hints at blackberry. Juicy but lean flavors of dark berries and bitter chocolate come across as a bit dry today. Lacks finesse for Chambolle and finishes a bit skinny.

Round and juicy. Then a tight finish. Should develop well. It certainly has all the ingredients. Whistle clean. (JR)