2009 Joseph Drouhin, Chambolle-Musigny Premier Cru

The 2009 Chambolle-Musigny – 1er Cru shows gorgeous village character in an energetic, powerful style. Sweet, sensual fruit emerges with time in the glass, followed by clean, pointed minerality that frames the finish. This is slightly reserved today, but promising. The Chambolle is a blend of five parcels vinified together.

(30% vendange entier ): Medium red. Very ripe aromas of redcurrant, mocha and chocolate, with some earthy complexity; a bit Bordeaux-like. Creamy-rich but not overly sweet, with spice and chocolate notes adding interest; comes across as slightly roasted. I wanted a bit more lift and freshness. Enologist Jerome Faure-Brac noted that 2009 brought very ripe fruit and supple tannins, "but the warm weather degraded the acidity. We vinified with a lot of whole clusters to maintain freshness."