1976 Chambolle Musigny Les Amoureuses

The 1976 Chambolle-Musigny Les Amoureuses 1er Cru was rather fatigued on the nose, displaying dusty undergrowth scents and a tang of seaweed. The palate is balanced with dry tannins, and foursquare with an austere but not undrinkable finish. Maybe it was just this bottle, but the wine is nearing the end of its mortal coil.

Tasted at the Chambolle Amoureuses vertical in London, the 1976 Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru les Amoureuses felt rather fatigued and enervated on the nose, with dusty undergrowth scents and a distant tang of seaweed. The palate is balanced with dry tannin, unapologetically foursquare with an austere but not undrinkable finish. Be careful of bottles with suspect provenance, as this was hanging on by its fingernails. Tasted November 2015.

A group of Drouhin’s Chambolle-Musigny Les Amoureuses was beautiful. I thought the 1985 was the most complete of the wines. It showed elements of sweet, ethereal fruit and pretty tertiary nuances. The 1990 was an especially delicate Les Amoureuses, with notable purity and inner sweetness, although it faded a bit in the glass. The 1978 Les Amoureuses offered up sweet scents of tobacco, autumn leaves and herbs. Here the fruit was a touch faded, and the wine came across as slightly dry on the finish. Chef Troisgros’s pigeon dish was absolutely divine, even if it was perhaps a touch too rich for these delicate Burgundies.