2007 Chambolle Musigny Les Feusselottes
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Tasting notes
Smoky black tea, tar, and resin mingle with dark berries preserves in the Meo 2007 Chambolle-Musigny Les Feusselottes Frere et Soeur, with an almost bitter, singed edge to the caramel notes that emerge to prominence after this has been in your mouth for a few seconds. But this is admirable in terms of its balance of jam-like sweetness with brightness as well as with a strong, domesticated but pasture-fed meatiness, and it finishes with real aplomb, promising at least a half dozen years of satisfaction. Jean-Nicolas Meo emphasized the contrast between the low pHs of his 2008s (typical, of course, for this vintage in general) and the high pHs of 2007, which ironically – since the latter were given a higher dosage of sulfur as a precaution against undesirable bacteriological activity – led, he reported, to 2007s that showed a harder side initially than many of the corresponding 2008s. Given the high acids of 2008, says Meo, he preferred to let the fruit hang longer – even despite some shriveling – so that few of the musts were chaptalized and most were 13% or higher in natural alcohol. Typical for this address, the wines display admirable, even unusually strong sweetness of fruit, but in 2008 accompanied by prominent tannins and notes of new wood. Meo compares his 2008s with 2001 and 1996, opining that his wines from those two vintages have for the most part – in contrast with many 1993s – evolved nicely and without exhibiting excessive stiffness or hardness. I caught some 2008s in bottle and others from tank just before bottling, and the several 2007s I tasted alongside showed well, although Meo – in contrast with most growers – thinks his 2008 fruit was superior even in sheer ripeness. (Negociant wines – some from parcels the Meos in fact farm – are noted as “Frere et Soeur.”) Importer: Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant, Berkeley, CA; tel. (510) 524-1524. Also a Jean-Marie de Champs Selection (various importers), French fax 011 33 3 80 22 58 25
Critic scores
Average Score
Allen Meadows, Burghound
David Schildknecht, Vinous
More reviews and scores
(negociant wine) Palish red. Subdued aromas of red fruits and spices. Pure and juicy but on the lean side; firmly built but could use more flavor definition and depth. Finishes with adequate length. These vines were picked early, noted Meo.
This is also ultra elegant, indeed perhaps even more so as the lacy, pure and equally airy and layered nose offers up high-toned red pinot fruit aromas that carry a subtle note of spices that dissolve into detailed and silky flavors that are supported by buried tannins and excellent length on the ever so slightly more complex finish. I would make the same comment here as I did for the Cras, e.g. if this can add depth, it should be a knockout. Allen Meadows, Burghound Jan01,2009
Smoky black tea, tar, and resin mingle with dark berries preserves in the Meo 2007 Chambolle-Musigny Les Feusselottes Frere et Soeur, with an almost bitter, singed edge to the caramel notes that emerge to prominence after this has been in your mouth for a few seconds. But this is admirable in terms of its balance of jam-like sweetness with brightness as well as with a strong, domesticated but pasture-fed meatiness, and it finishes with real aplomb, promising at least a half dozen years of satisfaction. ||Jean-Nicolas Meo emphasized the contrast between the low pHs of his 2008s (typical, of course, for this vintage in general) and the high pHs of 2007, which ironically – since the latter were given a higher dosage of sulfur as a precaution against undesirable bacteriological activity – led, he reported, to 2007s that showed a harder side initially than many of the corresponding 2008s. Given the high acids of 2008, says Meo, he preferred to let the fruit hang longer – even despite some shriveling – so that few of the musts were chaptalized and most were 13% or higher in natural alcohol. Typical for this address, the wines display admirable, even unusually strong sweetness of fruit, but in 2008 accompanied by prominent tannins and notes of new wood. Meo compares his 2008s with 2001 and 1996, opining that his wines from those two vintages have for the most part – in contrast with many 1993s – evolved nicely and without exhibiting excessive stiffness or hardness. I caught some 2008s in bottle and others from tank just before bottling, and the several 2007s I tasted alongside showed well, although Meo – in contrast with most growers – thinks his 2008 fruit was superior even in sheer ripeness. (Negociant wines – some from parcels the Meos in fact farm – are noted as “Frere et Soeur.”) Wine Advocate.June, 2010