2011 Louis Jadot Chambertin-Clos de Bèze Grand Cru

The limits of the vintage are apparent in the 2011 Chambertin Clos de Bèze, which lacks the depth and structure that are typical of this side. Dried flowers, iron and red stone fruits emerge, but there is only modest depth in the glass. This is a pretty, nuanced, mid-weight Burgundy, but not especially typical of Bèze.

Medium red. Complex but youthfully reticent nose offers cherry, raspberry, minerals and sexy smoky oak. Juicy, silky and deep, with lovely flesh and restrained sweetness to the tangy redcurrant and spice flavors. Very well-judged use of new oak here. A building note of orange zest adds lift to the middle palate. Finishes silky, suave and long, with noble tannins. With 48 hours in the recorked bottle, this continued to show a wonderfully layered mouth feel while avoiding the peppery aspect displayed by many examples from this vintage. I'd love to try this next to the Chapelle in ten years.

Good medium red. Extravagantly complex nose combines raspberry, wild rose, crushed rock, clove, mocha and wild herbs. Wonderfully subtle, spherical and nuanced, communicating an almost 3-D texture to the flavors of red berries, spices, licorice, herbs and flowers. The wine's firm spine of tannins is utterly covered by lush, fleshy fruit today. The thick, slowly rising finish washes over the palate like a wave.