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Philippe Rossignol, Gevrey-Chambertin Vielles Vignes

Burgundy, France 2015 (750mL)
$55.00
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Philippe Rossignol, Gevrey-Chambertin Vielles Vignes

When it comes to red Burgundy royalty, Chambolle-Musigny is the perfumed, pretty “queen” and Gevrey-Chambertin the darker-robed “king,” known for more brooding expressions of Côte de Nuits Pinot Noir. 
The warm 2015 vintage was widely acclaimed all over Europe, and it delivered incredible wines in Burgundy—provided grapes were harvested before becoming over-ripe. Some ’15s I’ve tasted have felt a little over-extracted and atypical, so when today’s wine from Philippe Rossignol came along, I was reminded of how truly great 2015 red Burgundy can be when done right! As they say, you have to kiss a few frogs before you find the prince—or in this case, the king—and Rossignol, although somewhat of a “new kid” on the block, nailed this vintage. His “Vieilles Vignes” (“old vines”) Gevrey-Chambertin is a perfectly proportioned classic that will go the long haul. It is a beautifully evocative, dense, layered Gevrey-Chambertin that is lovely now and will peak at its 10th birthday. These wines are rare to come by in the US, so stock up while you can!
Insofar as old vines go in Burgundy’s Côte de Nuits, Gevrey-Chambertin has a stronghold. Its nine Grand Cru vineyards produce powerfully rich, densely layered, potent wines that are fascinating to enjoy in their youth and grow to earth-shatteringly complex heights as they mature. With the formidable Chambertin itself, and iconic neighbors, it’s only natural that a vigneron would feel humbled by his surroundings. These vineyard sites are centuries in the making and vines are rooted deep in limestone, which is why burgeoning producers can thrive here—as long as they have an adept hand in traditional winemaking. That’s where Domaine Philippe Rossignol comes into play. 

Established some 40 years ago (which qualifies as “new” in a place like Burgundy), Philippe Rossignol established his eponymous domaine in the mid-1970s. Today’s Gevrey-Chambertin is sourced from select parcels throughout his 17 acres of vines in the appellation. Most vines are owned outright while some are by fermage, a long lease agreement (nine years minimum) that comes with the right of automatic renewal. They limit yields and always hand-harvest their crop. In the winery, grapes are entirely de-stemmed and after a cool fermentation, they are aged in mostly neutral French oak. 

Although Rossignol is still an under-the-radar producer, there is a close connection to one of Burgundy’s all-star cult producers: Gevrey’s Joseph Roty is Philippe’s brother-in-law, so there is no lack of prestige here. Today, Philippe’s son, Sylvain, works hand-in-hand with his dad to craft beautiful expressions of red Burgundy across a range of terroirs, and their Gevrey-Chambertin is a testament to their winemaking prowess. We were among the first in the US to introduce Philippe Rossignol wines to American wine lovers, and now, we can’t get enough. 

In the glass, Rossignol’s 2015 Gevrey-Chambertin shows a deep, dark ruby core, moving to slight pink with garnet hues on the rim. It is highly aromatic with dark, brooding, and intense black cherry, blackberry, ripe strawberry with underbrush, dried leaves, forest floor, dried mushroom, black tea leaf, dried flowers, and delicate hints of exotic spices on the palate. Nearing a full-bodied mouthfeel with firm yet soft tannins, flavors on the palate confirm the nose as beautiful deep, sweet fruit moves into a cornucopia of savory components on a long finish. This is serious Gevery-Chambertin, and I’d advise aging and waiting another 3-4 years to really see the prince, and eventually, the king this will turn into. The density of the wine with its profound tannic structure and savory qualities calls for pairing with deeply delicious stews, slow-braised brisket, or lamb shank done on the grill. Even simple barbecue chicken would work! If you’re drinking this in the near future, decant for 45 minutes and serve at 60-65 degrees in large Burgundy stems. Enjoy!
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Country
France
Region
Burgundy
Sub-Region
FranceGevrey-Chambertin
Soil
Clay & Limestone
Farming
Sustainable
Blend
Pinot Noir 100%
Alcohol
14.0
OAK
Mostly Neutral French
TEMP.
60-65
Glassware
Burgundy Stems
Drinking
Now-2035
Decanting
45 Minutes
Pairing
Grilled Lamb Shank

France

Bourgogne

Beaujolais

Enjoying the greatest wines of Beaujolais starts, as it usually does, with the lay of the land. In Beaujolais, 10 localities have been given their own AOC (Appellation of Controlled Origin) designation. They are: Saint Amour; Juliénas; Chénas; Moulin-à Vent; Fleurie; Chiroubles; Morgon; Régnié; Côte de Brouilly; and Brouilly.

Southwestern France

Bordeaux

Bordeaux surrounds two rivers, the Dordogne and Garonne, which intersect north of the city of Bordeaux to form the Gironde Estuary, which empties into the Atlantic Ocean. The region is at the 45th parallel (California’s Napa Valley is at the38th), with a mild, Atlantic-influenced climate enabling the maturation of late-ripening varieties.

Central France

Loire Valley

The Loire is France’s longest river (634 miles), originating in the southerly Cévennes Mountains, flowing north towards Paris, then curving westward and emptying into the Atlantic Ocean near Nantes. The Loire and its tributaries cover a huge swath of central France, with most of the wine appellations on an east-west stretch at47 degrees north (the same latitude as Burgundy).

Northeastern France

Alsace

Alsace, in Northeastern France, is one of the most geologically diverse wine regions in the world, with vineyards running from the foothills of theVosges Mountains down to the Rhine River Valley below.

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