2006 Gevrey Chambertin Les Gruenchers
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Tasting notes
The Fourrier 2006 Chambolle Musigny Les Gruenchers – from a site below Le Fuees and Cras – generously delivers the scents and flavor of ripe red raspberries accented by cardamom and cinnamon. Bright, elegant, and buoyant, its invigoratingly saline mineral streak perfectly fits its overall personality. Hints of smoke and chalk join on the vibrant, lip-smacking, penetrating, downright bracing finish. It would be a shame to miss out on the youthful virtues of this rather white wine-like Pinot, although I imagine it will also be worth following for at least 4-6 years. Eyebrows as well as stakes in the Burgundy-buying game were raised when the prices of certain Fourrier 2006s came out well above those of 2005. Time will of course tell whether this new positioning "sticks," but there can be no overlooking either the consistently excellent results Jean-Marie Fourrier achieves, nor the extreme paucity and remarkable quality of his two most celebrated bottlings, particularly in this vintage. Jean-Claude Fourrier – with whom I tasted the majority of his son's 2006s – told me that contrary to usual practice here, the stems were removed from all of the fruit this year, because none were really ripe (i.e. truly lignified). (For more about Fourrier's always articulately and thoughtfully expressed methods, consult my report in issue 170.) Importer: Rosenthal Wine Merchant, Pine Plains, NY; tel. (800) 910-1990
Critic scores
Jancis Robinson MW
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
Solid bright red. Rather attenuated – a slightly soupy note on the nose. But then there is good vital fruit and a real beginning, middle and end – medium weight. Acidity rather marked – damsons? (JR)
Good bright, deep red. Musky strawberry, raspberry and mint on the nose. Rich, sweet and supple, with lovely fullness to the flavors of red fruits, spices, flowers and stone. Finishes with dusty tannins and lovely building persistence. This vineyard was hit by hail, but Fourrier says damage here was minimal owing to the north-south plantation of the rows of vines.
About the producer
Domaine Fourrier is located in the village of Gevrey-Chambertin. The estate has been run by Jean-Marie Fourrier since 1994, and has rapidly become one of the village’s most fashionable names, known for producing pure and transparent Pinot Noir.