2011 Domaine Denis Bachelet, Gevrey-Chambertin Premier Cru, Les Corbeaux Vieilles Vignes

The 2011 Gevrey-Chambertin Les Corbeaux 1er Cru has a refined and elegant bouquet that seduces thanks to its purity. There is brightness here, a clarity that Denis Bachelet imbues in so many of his wines. The palate is smooth and sensual on the entry with a fine bead of acidity, still maybe a little oaky, with plenty of “ rondeur ” on the finish that is tinged by fig and brown spices. Excellent. Tasted at Flint Wines Burgundy 2011 tasting.

(30% new oak): Bright red with ruby highlights. Highly perfumed nose offers scents of dark cherry, spices, flowers and pepper; a bit less black in character than the Evocelles. Dense, suave and light on its feet, with nicely integrated acidity providing excellent balance. Gentle extraction here has given this wine considerable early appeal. A superb example from this cool terroir, which features humid clay-rich soil.

Bachelet's 2011 Gevrey-Chambertin Corbeaux needs time in the glass to open up. Always a bit reticent in its youth, the Corbeaux is deceptively medium-in body, yet there is plenty of energy lurking in the background. I would give the Corbeaux a few more years in bottle to fully come around.