2012 Chassagne Montrachet Les Macherelles

The 2012 Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Macharelles has a potent walnut and smoke-scented nose that sprints out of the blocks. Clean and precise on the palate, this beautifully poised Chassagne builds in the mouth toward its vivacious, mineral-rich finish that has impressive sustain. This represents another excellent offering from Jean-Baptiste and Benoit Bachelet. Drink 2015-2025+. I have been a huge admirer of Benoit and Jean-Baptiste Bachelet’s wines, since I first encountered them in the UK. This vigneron slipped through the net in my mammoth November/December report, although for good reason, since the late malolactics made the wines impossible to taste. So, it is a pleasure to acquaint myself with their 2012s now that they are ready, and what an impressive set of offerings they make. This was the first vintage whereby the vineyard has been nurtured biodynamically, and, irrespective of whether the quality of wines is down to the tenets of Herr Steiner, there is no doubt that they are imbued with complexity and great fruit concentration without dispensing with elegance. The good news is that since I first reported on their wines, there is distribution in the United States. There is more the one great Bachelet in Burgundy. Importer: David Bowler Wine, New York, NY; tel. (212) 807-1680; www.bowlerwine.com; and Elite Wines, Lorton, VA; tel. (703) 339-8150; www.elitewines.com; Also available through Berry Brothers & Rudd in UK.