2009 Domaine Perrot-Minot Charmes Chambertin Vieilles Vignes, 1.5ltr

Domaine Henri Perrot-Minot is a 32-acre estate in Morey-Saint-Denis, in Burgundy’s Cote de Nuits. The domaine was founded in the 19th century, and is today still owned and operated by descendants of the founders. Henri Perrot-Minot married into the family in 1963 and ran the estate until 1993, when his son Christophe took over. Christophe has expanded the estate into Vosne-Romanee and Perrot-Minot now has Grand Cru parcels in Chambertin-Clos de Beze, Chambertin, Mazoyeres-Chambertin, Charmes-Chambertin, Mazis-Chambertin, Chapelle-Chambertin and Clos Vougeot. The estate also has 14 Premier Cru parcels. Clive Coates has written that “this is a very good address.”

Charmes-Chambertin is a 78-acre Grand Cru vineyard in Gevrey-Chambertin that traditionally includes the acreage of nearby Mazoyeres-Chambertin. For nearly 200 years the growers of Mazoyeres have been legally allowed to sell their wines under the more famous name of Charmes-Chambertin, and virtually all of them do. Charmes-Chambertin is the largest of the Gevrey-Chambertin Grand Crus, and it generally has an excellent reputation. The slope of the vineyard is gentle and the surface soil poor. But producers including Joseph Roty, Christian Serafin, Domaine Dujac, Faiveley and Joseph Drouhin are acclaimed for their Charmes Chambertin. Principal landholders are Camus, with 14.75 acres; Perrot-Minot, 4 acres; and Armand Rousseau, 3.5 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.