2010 Chambertin

Medium red. Reticent but fully ripe aromas of musky red fruits, mocha, smoke and minerals. Showing less obvious volume today than the Lavaux but this very pure wine boasts outstanding clarity and intensity of red fruit and mineral flavors and great transparency to its soil. The sappy, taut, extremely long finish leaves the taste buds quivering. Really electric energy here: Mortet has brought his Chambertin to a new level with his 2010 and 2011 vintages.

The 2010 Chambertin saturates the palate with masses of dark fruit, licorice, tar and graphite. All of the aromas and flavors meld together beautifully on the textured finish. I especially like the combination of richness and transparency. This is an especially deep, muscular Chambertin that will require a measure of patience. There is more than enough richness in the fruit to suggest that the future is very bright.

Good full, bright red. Aromas of small red berries, crushed stone, mocha, clove and caraway seed. Round, sappy and very fine-grained, with tightly coiled flavors of red berries and lavender. There's a tangy lift and clarity to the middle palate that's downright exhilarating today. Finishes with firm, fine-grained tannins, great lingering perfume and a real whiplash of minerals and red fruits. Great potential here. Like the Lavaux-Saint-Jacques, this wine rarely reaches 13% natural alcohol, notes Mortet, adding that the fermentation in wood cuve always goes quickly.