The 2005 Chambolle-Musigny Les Cras was slightly reduced and required a good shaking, but then ...! Aromas of black raspberry jam and high-toned suggestions of black tea, iris, and marzipan in the nose usher in a terrifically sweet, rich palate with jam and honey wreathed in flowers and reinforced by a sounding board of chalk. A long, lush, finish features continued sweet florality and confiture of black raspberry, with counterpoint from chalk dust and white pepper. For all of its richness, make no mistake: there is an underlying abundance of ultra-fine tannin more than sufficient to help see this through at least 12-15 years of exciting evolution.
Sharing expanded wine-making facilities with her husband, Louis Boillot, Gislaine Barthod continues to render some of the purest, most expressively fruity and consistently excellent as well as ageworthy Pinots in Burgundy. All but the Bourgogne and village Chambolle – recently assembled in tank – were tasted from barrel.
Importer: Rosenthal Wine Merchant, Pine Plains, NY; tel. (800) 910-1990.