Unwinding in the glass with aromas of cassis, blackberries, cherries and warm spices, Bouchard's 2018 Chambolle-Musigny Village is showing nicely from bottle. Medium to full-bodied, muscular and nicely concentrated, with rich, powdery tannins and succulent acids, it's a powerful wine that reflects the style of the vintage but which should age with grace.

From bottle, the 2017 Chambolle-Musigny Village confirms its strong showing from barrel, bursting with aromas of raspberries, cherries, sweet spices and dried flowers. On the palate, the wine is medium to full-bodied, broad and satiny, with lovely balance and depth of fruit at the core, ripe balancing acids and supple structuring tannins. This is a charming but serious Chambolle that will offer a broad drinking window.

The 2016 Chambolle-Musigny Village is a “micro-cuvée” from their own vines, augmented by purchased grapes from their neighbor. I found the aromatics a little muffled compared to say, the Monthélie, with broody dark berry fruit quite Morey-Saint-Denis in style. The palate is medium-bodied and performs better than the aromatics—fine tannin, well balanced with a pretty finish albeit missing some of Chambolle’s flamboyance.

The 2012 Chambolle-Musigny Village sees 20% new oak, matured in barrel for 10 to 13 months. The nose is simple with light red cherry and redcurrant scents, not dissimilar to say a Marlborough Pinot Noir. The palate is supple on the entry, quite masculine with a light, bitter cherry finish that pulls up short. Drink now-2017. Although I tasted the wines of this Burgundy grand maison in London, I spent a morning with winemaker Philippe Prost to go through at least part of their large portfolio to get an insight into Bouchard Pere & Fils. Ever since Michel Bouchard established the house in 1731, it has been a permanent fixture in Burgundy, surviving seizure by the State after the Revolution, phylloxera, two World Wars and periods when the world simply was uninterested in Burgundy. Today they own 130 hectares of vines, more than any Bordeaux chateau, including 12 grand crus and 74 premier crus. Importer: Henriot Inc. and John E. Fells in the UK.

Lifted, earthy, complex. Dry and silky, with marked acidity. Still rather tight and young. Needs time to blossom.