2020 Chambertin Clos de Beze

Not a domaine wine but every year the vines come from exactly the same location within the climat, fairly close to the little house with Clos de Bèze on it. Fred can choose the date of harvest. The last vineyard to be picked, on 28 August in 2020. 30% whole bunch and a longer maceration than most at 20 days. This is another wine Weber regards as delicate! Only 'eight or nine' barrels produced. Mid crimson. Pale rim – paler than one might expect. Subtle, energetic nose. Still quite tannic (unlike the rest of this range from Bouchard Père et Fils) but with genuinely interesting, complex fruit. Dry finish after a spicy cocktail of fruit. Great drive! It's so accessible it's tempting to drink it now. But I'm sure it will develop even more interest with time. Of course, it's always possible that it will close down completely during the rest of this current decade… (JR)

Opening in the glass with a rich bouquet of wild berries, cassis, orange rind, rich spices, loamy soil, black truffles and toasty new oak, the 2020 Chambertin Clos de Bèze Grand Cru is full-bodied, ample and seamless, with a rich, enveloping core of fruit, ripe tannins and lively acids. Concluding with a long, resonant finish, it's a terrific wine in the making.

The 2020 Chambertin Clos-de-Bèze Grand Cru comes from purchased grapes that Bouchard harvest themselves. It has a fresh black cherry and boysenberry jam scented bouquet, just a touch of warm alcohol here. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, quite dense and lightly spiced. It feels quite muscular towards the finish where I would like to see more light amongst the shade. A bit dense and brawny.