1970 Philippe Duroche Chambertin Clos de Beze

Domaine Philippe Duroché is now called simply Domaine Duroché, reflecting the generational change at this Gevrey-Chambertin producer. Philippe started out with 7.5 acres in 1954 and added to the estate before turning it over to his son Gilles in the 1980s. Today the estate includes 20 acres of owned and leased land, and Gilles’ son Pierre is also part of the business. The domaine has Grand Cru parcles in Charmes-Chambertin, Latricières-Chambertin and Chambertin Clos de Beze, as well as Premier Crus and village parcels in Gevrey-Chambertin. Clive Coates has written that “This is a very efficient set-up, with a spotlessly tidy cellar in the center of the village…Quality is now very good, and the wines are rich and succulent.”

Chambertin Clos-de-Beze is a Grand Cru vineyard in Gevrey-Chambertin, and its history goes back to the 7th century when it was owned by the monks of the Abbey of Beze. After the French Revolution the Catholic Church was forced to divide the vineyard among peasants. Today it is a 38-acre vineyard, making it slightly larger than Chambertin. Chambertin and Chambertin Clos-de-Beze are adjacent and share similar limestone, clay and gravel soils. Of the 18 proprietors, the largest by acreage are Pierre Damoy, 13.4 acres; Armand Rousseau, 3.5 acres; and Drouhin-Laroze, 3.48 acres.

This red wine is relatively light and can pair with a wide variety of foods. The grape prefers cooler climates and the wine is most often associated with Burgundy, Champagne and the U.S. west coast. Regional differences make it nearly as fickle as it is flexible.