2015 Hubert Lignier Charmes-Chambertin
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Tasting notes
Good medium red. Wild nose offers hints of superripe red raspberry, mocha and leather, with a fresher violet note emerging with air. A very ripe, almost roasted style with terrific chewy concentration--and more juicy purple-fruit lift than the nose would suggest. Finishes with a powerful spine of chewy tannins and very good precision.
Critic scores
Allen Meadows, Burghound
Neal Martin
More reviews and scores
(from Mazoyères-Chambertin; Laurent Lignier told me that these vines were already old when his father Hubert made his first vintage from them in 1978): Healthy full red. Deep, slightly reduced scents of very ripe strawberry, licorice and smoky minerality hint at a medicinal character. Plush, thick and rich in the mouth, but showing much less detail today than the Griotte. Broad flavors of dark cherry and licorice lead to a long but slightly musclebound finish featuring serious tongue-dusting tannins. This wine will need at least several years of bottle age to reveal its full personality.
The 2015 Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru, which comes from the Mazoyères sector, has a gorgeous bouquet in the making with joyful red berry fruit mixed with cold stone and subtle oyster shell aromas, the 30% new oak deftly integrated and barely noticeable. The palate is medium-bodied with a fleshy, vibrant opening. There are layers of tart red cherry fruit, crushed strawberry, citrus peel and quince fanning out wonderful towards the finish, which exerts a gentle but insistent grip. What a fabulous Charmes-Chambertin from Laurent and Hubert Lignier.
Just a few barrels each year. In Mazoyères. He bought it in 1968 when it was already a very old vineyard. Very lively with lots of fresh acidity and frank, ripe plum fruit. A real charmer. Lots of appeal already. Quite dry end. (JR)