-
ProducerDomaine Georges Roumier
-
Vintage2018
-
Grape VarietyPinot Noir
-
RegionBurgundy
-
Sub RegionChambolle Musigny
-
SizeBottle
The domaine was founded in 1924 by Georges Roumier, who began domaine bottling in 1945. He was succeeded in 1957 by his son Jean-Marie and now grandson Christophe, who joined his father in 1982 and took over completely in 1992. Most of the wines are rented (en fermage) from family members although Ruchottes Chambertin is held on a share cropping deal with an external proprietor, Michel Bonnefond. The wines are seductively fruity in their youth yet with excellent ageing potential.
The grapes are sorted in the vineyard, with a table de tri at the winery since 2003. They are mostly destemmed, albeit depending on vineyard and vintage, with a few more stems being used recently – then placed in wooden fermenters. The juice is given a cool soak at 15° then allowed to start naturally. The juice is punched down twice a day and temperature controlled so as not to exceed 32°C.
There is no great reliance on new wood in the maturation cellar, with 15-25% being used for village wines, 25-40% for premiers crus and no more than 50% for Bonnes Mares. In recent years Christophe has been searching for, and achieving, a greater sense of precision in his wines.
93 Points Allen Meadows
Here the intensely floral-suffused nose is also quite yet fresh ripe with its aromas of poached plum, cassis and pretty spice wisps. The exceptionally rich and dense full-bodied flavors possess an opulent palate impression though the almost pungent salinity adds a sense of lift to the surprisingly powerful, mouth coating and firm finish where the only nit is a hint of warmth. This too possesses excellent development potential, so patience absolutely advised.
92 Points Robert Parker Wine Advocate
Another structured, serious wine is the 2018 Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru Les Cras, one of the ripest in the cellar—as I observed last year. Opening in the glass with notes of cherries, plums raw cocoa, peonies and espresso roast, it’s medium to full-bodied, rich and layered, with a voluminous core of ripe but lively fruit, powdery and abundant tannins and a youthfully chalky finish.