2009 Domaine Trapet Chapelle-Chambertin Grand Cru

The 2009 Chapelle-Chambertin is the richest, roundest and most open of the Trapet Grand Crus. It is also the Grand Cru that shows the most vintage influence vis-a-vis the 2008s. High-toned expressive aromatics lead to a warm, radiant core of fruit. In 2009 the Chapelle is round, sweet, full and totally inviting from start to finish. The wine’s accessible personality is a very nice counter to the typically firm house style. Accordingly, the Chapelle should be the most enjoyable of the 2009 Grand Crus for early drinking. Trapet describes Chapelle as the domaine’s first vineyard to flower and ripen. Anticipated maturity: 2019-2039. This is a beautiful set of wines from Jean-Louis Trapet. The estate farms their vineyards biodynamically. After fermentation the wines are kept in a cold part of the cellar to delay the malolactic fermentations. When I visited in March 2011, the 2010s had not even begun their malos. In 2009 the harvest started on September 18. The wines spent about 18 days on the skins prior to being racked into barrel, where they stayed on their lees with no rackings until they were bottled with no fining or filtration. The amount of whole clusters ranged from 30% to 60%, while the use of new barrels ranged from 30% to 50%. The 2009s were bottled in February 2011, four to six weeks earlier than normal. Trapet is among the growers who believe the 2009s will not shut down in bottle. I was also quite taken with the selection of 2008s I tasted. Burgundy fans will find much to admire in both vintages. The house style tends towards the firm, classic end of the spectrum, so a measure of patience is required, even for the 2009s. Various US Importers, including: Polaner Selections, Mt. Kisco, NY; tel. (914) 244-0404; Stacole Fine Wines, Boca Raton, FL; tel. (561) 998-0029 A Patrick Lesec Selection (various importers), Paris Fax 011 33 4 66 37 67 23

Bright medium red. Very expressive gamey nose suggests full ripeness, even a bit of warmth. Then sweet and large-scaled on the palate, but less complex and precise at present than the Latricieres. Still quite unevolved but there's less tension here and this wine will probably be ready before the suaver Latricieres. Showing plenty of soil tones today but with its ripe fruit in the background.

The 2009 Chapelle-Chambertin is the richest, roundest and most open of the Trapet Grand Crus. It is also the Grand Cru that shows the most vintage influence vis-a-vis the 2008s. High-toned expressive aromatics lead to a warm, radiant core of fruit. In 2009 the Chapelle is round, sweet, full and totally inviting from start to finish. The wine’s accessible personality is a very nice counter to the typically firm house style. Accordingly, the Chapelle should be the most enjoyable of the 2009 Grand Crus for early drinking. Trapet describes Chapelle as the domaine’s first vineyard to flower and ripen. Anticipated maturity: 2019-2039. ||This is a beautiful set of wines from Jean-Louis Trapet. The estate farms their vineyards biodynamically. After fermentation the wines are kept in a cold part of the cellar to delay the malolactic fermentations. When I visited in March 2011, the 2010s had not even begun their malos. In 2009 the harvest started on September 18. The wines spent about 18 days on the skins prior to being racked into barrel, where they stayed on their lees with no rackings until they were bottled with no fining or filtration. The amount of whole clusters ranged from 30% to 60%, while the use of new barrels ranged from 30% to 50%. The 2009s were bottled in February 2011, four to six weeks earlier than normal. Trapet is among the growers who believe the 2009s will not shut down in bottle. I was also quite taken with the selection of 2008s I tasted. Burgundy fans will find much to admire in both vintages. The house style tends towards the firm, classic end of the spectrum, so a measure of patience is required, even for the 2009s.||Various US Importers, including: Polaner Selections, Mt. Kisco, NY; tel. (914) 244-0404; Stacole Fine Wines, Boca Raton, FL; tel. (561) 998-0029 A Patrick Lesec Selection (various importers), Paris Fax 011 33 4 66 37 67 23 Wine Advocate.May, 2011