Touted as “the King of Burgundy,” Le Chambertin is arguably the most famous vineyard in all of the Cote d’Or, the Grand Cru that lends its name to the village of Gevrey-Chambertin. A favorite of Napoleon and countless others, Le Chambertin is as much a monument to French culture as it is a vineyard, and the relatively meager amount of wine it produces (from about 35 acres total) is fought over like the rare art it is.
Naturally, this sacred ground commands often-astronomical prices for wines that are perhaps the most powerful, intensely perfumed red Burgundies of all; luckily our relationship with Domaine Tortochot’s importer allows us to offer you this 2013 Le Chambertin for a relative steal. This long-lived treasure is not a wine to drink today, but one to keep in the cold reaches of your cellar for a decade or more.
Among the legends that surround Le Chambertin is one detailing Napoleon’s bitter defeat by the Russians. As the story goes, Napoleon left munitions behind so that he could carry more Le Chambertin to fortify himself in battle, and while that sounds like a great move to us, it turns out he could’ve used more guns. Only history knows the truth, but one thing is certain: Le Chambertin was, and still is, one of the most significant vineyards in the world.
Over Le Chambertin’s subsoil of marl lies a surface of scree and fine silt that results in one of the most powerful mineral footprints and deepest expressions of Pinot Noir on earth. Domaine Tortochot’s parcel -- which amounts to about an acre -- sits on some of the highest ground in the vineyard and possess more chalk in the topsoil, lending a touch of finesse and a freshening lift to the abundant power. Boasting pedigree of terroir and serious family lineage, Tortochot’s classic, terroir-driven wines impress across the board, with this 2013 Le Chambertin at the very top of the line.
The Tortochot family have nurtured some of Gevrey-Chambertin’s great vineyards for four generations. When humble vigneron Paul Tortochot married his son, Félix, to Louise Liébaut from Morey-Saint-Denis in the 1800’s, a great family legacy was born. Louise actually had a clone of Pinot Noir named after her family! Their son, Gabriel, ran the estate for decades and brought the Tortochot name even greater fame. Today, his daughters Brigitte and Chantal run the domaine and have pushed the envelope even further in terms of quality. In 2003, Chantal began experimenting with organic practices, eventually converting the entirely of the estate to organic viticulture (certification was granted in 2012 by Ecocert).
The Tortochots make the thriving ecosystem of their vineyards a top priority. They meticulously prune, green harvest, and limit yields to 7-8 bunches per vine stock. The result is ample concentration and immense purity of fruit and terroir. The grapes are entirely hand-harvested then 100% de-stemmed prior to a gentle crush. The fruit is cold macerated for 4-5 days then fermented with only natural yeasts in climate-controlled stainless steel tanks, where the wine undergoes daily pump-overs and twice daily punch-downs. The wine is then pressed into 100% new French oak, which is medium-toasted to ensure the voice of the fruit and terroir is crystal clear. The wine is aged for 18 months then bottled without fining or filtration. This 2013 is Grand Cru Pinot at its most classic, with the structure to last for ages and the elegance to charm even the most discerning red Burgundy lover.
As for tasting notes, the 2013 Le Chambertin exhibits a deeply concentrated, dark ruby core with slight ruby and orange reflections on the rim. Deep, earthy aromas of black plum, black currant, fresh wild strawberry, and black cherry mingle with black tea leaf, dried leaves, mushroom, wet sage, wet violet and rose petals, dew-kissed fern, moss-covered stones, a hint of grape stems, crushed black rock minerality and various exotic spices culminate into a stunningly complex nose of bright fruit and brooding savory characteristics. The dense, full-bodied palate boasts structured tannins, bright and pristine fruit, reminiscent of the nose, that moves complex savory flavor of violets and rose petals and wild herbs, which move into notes of leather, crushed rocks and exotic spices that delineate into a seemingly never-ending finish. With plenty of grip, classic to Le Chambertin, and the overarching essence of Napoleon’s favorite vineyard, this is a wine to treasure.
