Charmes Chambertin, Domaine Coquard Loison-Fleurot 2019

The 2019 Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru was much more closed on the nose compared to the Clos Vougeot, offering tightly wound black fruit mixed with blueberry. The medium-bodied palate displays good salinity on the entry. This is a nicely proportioned Charmes-Chambertin that is predominantly black fruit with veins of blood orange and black pepper toward the finish. It will just need 4–5 years’ bottle age for the aromatics to awaken. This is 15.0° alcohol, so drink modestly if alcohol goes to your head. 2023 - 2040

A full purple colour, with a nose that is unusually reticent for Charmes-Chambertin. There is generous fruit on the palate, but this is softer than most, a little bit toasty behind, perhaps from the 50% new wood utilised for the grand cru wines. There is a long finish but the wine is currently perplexing. It measures the highest degree in the cellar (15%) but with a low pH. I am taking a cautious line. Tasted: November 2020