The Wine Advocate | RP 94
Published: Aug 30, 2019

The 2013 Chambertin Clos de Bèze Grand Cru is showing beautifully, bursting from the glass with a maturing bouquet of wild berries, blood orange, black truffles, spices and rich forest floor. On the palate, the wine is medium to full-bodied, broad and enveloping, with melting tannins, a generous core of fruit and a long, penetrating finish. In keeping with the vintage—which was characterized by long hang time but cool conditions—it's a Clos de Bèze that displays mature, even autumnal fruit tones as well as tangy acids, making for a wine that's simultaneously supple and penetrating. The finest of these cellar selections from Bouchard, this will drink well for a decade.
Drink Date: 2018 - 2028

Winemaker

The most prestigious Grand Cru in Gevrey-Chambertin is also one of the oldest walled vineyards in France. The famous "clos" was created in the 7th century by the monks from the abbey of Beze in the best situated place on their vast estate. In 1395, Philippe le Hardi decided to improve the quality of the wines and banned the gamay variety in favour of pinot noir on his land. Later, Chambertin Clos-de-Beze shared the imperial crown with Chambertin: during his reign, Napoleon would drink no other wines.

T A S T I N G
TASTING NOTE: Intense and complex aromas on the nose. Structured - though not excessively - and with lovely fleshiness, this is a sumptuous wine with a great ageing potential.
FOOD/WINE PAIRING: Game, venison, full-flavoured cheeses.
SERVING TEMPERATURE: Between 17C to 18C
AGEING POTENTIAL: 10 years and more

K N O W - H O W
HARVEST: manual, in small cases of 13 kg. Careful manual sorting of each grape.
VINIFICATION: Following total or partial destemming on the vintage, fermentation in small containers, gentle pressing ensure optimal vinification. Depending on the profile of the vintage, vatting lasts 18 to 21 days.
MATURING: 12 to 14 months in French oak, with 45 to 60% new oak.
AGEING: The cellars located in the Bastions of the ancient Chateau de Beaune offer ideal ambient conditions. Thanks to their natural hygrometry and constant temperatures, the Grands Crus enjoy from their first youth an environment that is perfectly adapted to tranquil ageing.

V I N E Y A R D
GRAPE VARIETY: Pinot Noir
EXPOSITION: East
SOIL OF THE APPELATION: Marly limestone and clay with crumbled rocks holding traces of potassium, iron and phosphorus
TOTAL SURFACE OF THE APPELATION IN PRODUCTION:14.4 hectares