2002 Charmes Chambertin

Deep red. Explosively rich, nuanced nose combines black cherry, mocha, coffee, game, mint, cola and smoke. Offers a rare silky sweetness on the palate, but with sappy fruit and terrific inner-palate energy. As sweet and fat as this is, it also has a strong underlying spine for aging. Finishes with superb length and subtle complexity.

Stunningly powerful flavors displaying superb depth of extract are introduced by wonderfully detailed and amazingly complex aromas of earth, red and black fruits, game, spice and an interesting musky undercurrent. Like all of the best wines of the vintage, what really sets this apart is the impeccable balance and this should age for 20 years without difficulty. This has noticeably more gas than any of the other wines and I would suggest decanting it first.

The 2002 Charmes-Chambertin offers aromas of roasted oak and candied berries. This wine has outstanding depth, power, and length. Its flavor profile combines smoky oak with blackberries, cassis, pepper, and roasted cinnamon sticks. Firm tannin and a hint of bitterness can be discerned in its lengthy finish. Projected maturity: 2007-2013. Importer: Robert Kacher Selections, Washington, DC; tel. (202) 832-9083