2023 Chambertin Clos de Beze

The 2023 Chambertin-Clos de Bèze Grand Cru is showing beautifully, wafting from the glass with notes of dark berries, plums, spices and espresso roast. Full-bodied, ample and velvety, it's seamless and fleshy, with lively acids and a long, gently oak-inflected finish. It's the usual blend of domaine and purchased fruit.

The Chambertin Clos de Bèze has been vinified in barrel with whole bunches. A rich crimson purple. The sensuality and the structure combine very well on the nose. Some spice is mixed in with the fruit, emanating from the vinification method. The rich, deep, succulent and sensual finish is enhanced by a few little crunchy details. The sumptuous nature of the raspberry fruit suggests it ws only just picked in time, but it does deliver a marvellous, long and seductive finish.

Cask sample. Like walking through the (Narnia?) wardrobe. Wood and doors and wooden panels and dark dust-musk-fragrant corners and then, boom, light and cloves, dark plums and wild-plums grilled on dark-rye toast. Very wood spicy. Toasted cumin. Tannins that scratch and pull and resist and draw you in and push you back. Very, very exciting and insistent. Long green-lead line. Leafy, meadowsweet fragrance on the finish. Absolutely thrilling. (TC)