2005 Chambolle Musigny Les Cras

The 2005 Chambolle-Musigny Les Cras 1er Cru is drinking well at the moment. It has that forcefulness that many 2005s possess, a sense of presence and power as if it doesn't want to be ignored. It offers copious red fruit, briar and touches of leather, which is very Chambolle in terms of its exuberance. The palate is more refined with grippy tannins. Again, it is pretty powerful, and you might argue that it lacks a bit of refinement. But there is purity of fruit and impressive length, and my glass was soon finished.

A vigorous red to crimson nose is backed by a youthful bouquet suggestive of some tannins - just a couple of leathery notes in amongst the undoubted red fruit. Actually there is quite dark red fruit, still offering some floral qualities alongside. Firm and powerful but the fruit is abundant and the tannins, while still requiring a while yet to integrate fully, do not dominate awkwardly. Tasted May 2019.

Oddly for a Barthod wine that typically sees limited amounts of new wood the nose is completely dominated by menthol and wood; indeed so much so that it makes me wonder if the bottle was entirely representative. Otherwise there is good freshness and ripeness to the impressively rich and mineral-driven flavors that possess a velvety mouth feel, all wrapped in a beautifully complex, dusty and firmly tannic finish where a touch of austerity appears. My score assumes that the nose is an anomaly as there is no reason that I can think of save for a bottling run issue.