.
Links to 2010 Chambolle thread and 2011 Chambolle thread. Lots of good discussions in these prior threads about the commune and the various crus, so recommended reading.
You have Musigny for 2012, Ray? I can’t wait!!! 
Chambolle-Musigny is my #1 favorite commune on Earth, so I’m looking forward to this week in the appellation series. The distinguishing signature of Chambolle-Musigny is elegance and wines of delicate texture and structure, yet with full perfume and amazing intensity of flavor and grip on the palate. Crus differ, of course, and so do producer styles, so some wines display their Chambolle-ness more than others, especially when young. But if we think of the “signature” of the various communes as general tendencies rather than absolutes, the beauty of each can be seen.
At its best, Chambolle tends toward red fruits and powdered limestone minerality, with exquisitely delicate lacy texture, and yet with grip and intensity that grabs hold of all my senses and just won’t let go. It’s impossible to fathom how any wine so fine and so gossamer can also be so intense. How can a wine be so light and airy and yet so powerful? It is The Miracle of Chambolle-Musigny.
Ray – Unless I’m missing something obvious (would be far from the first time), I think you’ve left the rarely-seen Les Grands Murs off your list of premiers crus. Also, it’s worth noting that a substantial number of premiers crus in Chambolle also exist in a village version – e.g., La Combe d’Orveau, Aux Combottes (but not Les Combottes), Aux Echanges, Aux Beaux Bruns, Les Cras, Les Véroilles, and at least according to some maps, Les Amoureuses (I’ve never seen a village wine label with this designation). Also, one climat, Combe d’Orveau, also exists partially as part of a grand cru (Musigny) as well as premier cru and village, although the climat is not indicated on the label of the Musigny (Jacques Prieur).
Ray, thank you for this great series, so helpful for a newbie like myself. Can you or anyone guide me as to Fourrier’s Chambolle-Musigny Village wine, is it single vineyard, is it well regarded compared to other producers village wines?
Cheers
David Morris
David, I don’t know about others, but I regard Fourrier’s village Chambolle very highly. Jean-Marie Fourrier’s wines always emphasize purity of fruit, and he expresses each cru in a weightless, ethereal style. This style works great with Chambolle, IMO.
One can say Fourrier’s wines are very Chambolle-like even when they are from Gevrey, due to his pure, ethereal style. That is true, until you taste his Gevrey alongside his Chambolle. Then the distinction between the terroirs will generally be apparent.
Hey Claude,
excellent point, especially on the Les Combottes. Some of this vineyard is laying fallow, some of it is even planted to a garden.
Regarding Les Grands Murs, it is actually a lieux dits of Les Feusselottes. Wiki sites will point to 25 premiers crus, though this is with Les Grands Murs being used on its own, while it is generally believed here that it should be noted under the heading of Les Feusselottes. BIVB counts 24 fwiw, excluding Grands Murs as its own distinct premier cru in their official count.
http://www.vins-bourgogne.fr/gallery_files/site/321/402/5417/5444.pdf
I do apologize for not having my copy of Lavalle on my trip abroad this week. Will do my best to patch up once I return home.
Wish I did! We will most likely be adding one vineyard in Chambolle-Musigny this year, but it won’t be for Maison ILAN. ![[cheers.gif]](/uploads/db3686/original/2X/0/0ff9bfcdb0964982cd3240b6159868fbdf215b1a.gif "cheers"){kind=small}
And, thank you, David. I really do enjoy putting together this series. Usually, I would have a huge post on Chambolle, but this will have to wait a bit.
I’ve no idea if Fourrier’s is one vineyard. I’m sure others may have some info here shortly.
Cheers
Ray
Dujac doesn’t often get mentioned in Chambolle discussions, but the '08 is just a balls-out rocking wine. Anticipating this thread, I had it about a week ago and I don’t think I have enjoyed a straight village level Chambolle more. At the moment, it is about 60% Chambolle and 40% Dujac which may be the key to why it is so succulent and good.
(Oddly, the Gruenchers has been the most disappointing Dujac wine I’ve encountered.)
A.
This had the red fruited grip and intensity in spades that Lewis described above…
2007 Philippe Pacalet Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru (4/25/2012)
Popped and poured from a restaurant list. Sommelier warned us regarding the natural wine philosophy which he said resulted in a quite unique style and a fair bit of bottle variability. Wine was a cloudy red colour, as expected. Soft, red fruited but not particularly powerful nose. However, very intense red fruited palate. Super sharp red cherries with a little strawberry and pomegranate in there too. A hint of spritz but not offputting. Blind, I would have guessed cali pinot although without the overripe, menthol, heat or heaviness. Really enjoyed this.
Posted from CellarTracker
BTW, Chambolle is well covered Weinlagen
Really?! Wow, that is great news!
Look forward to hearing more about this.
Bravo, Ray!!!
Looking forward to learning the details when they can be released.
I really hope this effort works out for you, Ray. I have no idea how likely “most likely” truly is, but all the best with it! That would be a spectacular development.
Spectacular indeed, if the implication that there may be a Domaine ILAN wine is what Ray means. All the best Ray!
Following up on Andrew’s comment, I have a Dujac Gruenchers lined up for later this week, and here is a Dujac villages TN from 2 days ago…
Domaine Dujac 1999 Chambolle-Musigny. Pure garnet at first, but with 45 minutes of air, the color brightens to ruby, and the nose and palate come alive as well. High toned in the mouth with subtle red fruit, sous bois, powdered limestone, and a hint of smoke. There is good grip on the acidity, and a beguiling textbook Chambolle delicate texture. And possibly some imperfect storage (source: Winebid), but still an Excellent wine, nearly Outstanding tonight.
Noob question: would the change from Maison Ilan to Domaine Ilan indicate that Ray owns the vines that produced the fruit as opposed to the fact that he simply purchased the grapes? If not, what does “Domaine” indicate?
Jimmie, it would indicate long-term control of the vines, as well as responsibility for the farming. So the vines could be owned, but also controlled via lease or a sharecropping agreement.
Nice site, thanks.