2018 Olivier Bernstein Charmes-Chambertin Vieilles Vignes Grand Cru
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Tasting notes
Seeing lots of stems (80%) and plenty of new wood (although you wouldn't know it by tasting it), the 2018 Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru comes from a larger vineyard just south of the village of Gevrey-Chambertin. It has a terrific core of red and black fruits as well as candied flowers and spicy nuances. It's beautiful on the palate as well and is medium-bodied, has incredible tannins, flawlessly integrated oak, and a great, great finish. It plays in the more elegant, graceful end of the spectrum but has intensity as well as length. It's another gorgeous wine from this winemaker.
Critic scores
Average Score
Jeb Dunnuck
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
More reviews and scores
The 2018 Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru is striking. Lavender, sage, mint and licorice play off a core of inky blue/purplish berry fruit. Bright acids and a spine of tannin lend energy and vibrancy throughout. Today, the Charmes is a bit closed. That should not be an issue in time, but readers should plan on cellaring it for a good few years. I very much like the sense of translucence here.
About the producer
Olivier Bernstein is among the most successful producers in Burgundy, setting the bar high for the growing number of micro-négociants in the region by producing wines that compete with those of the Côte d’Or’s finest domaines.