2006 Chapelle Chambertin Grand Cru
By Ponsot
2006 Chapelle Chambertin Grand Cru from Ponsot, Burgundy, France
The 2006 vintage in Burgundy is often remembered as a year that challenged vignerons, resulting in wines that reflect both the resilience of the vine and the deftness of human hands. It is within this context that the 2006 Chapelle Chambertin Grand Cru from Ponsot emerges as a wine of remarkable composure and depth.
Legacy of the Land and the Vintage Unveiled
The Grand Cru vineyards of Chapelle Chambertin are held in high esteem, known to yield wines brimming with elegance and potential for longevity. The 2006 release from Ponsot captures this essence splendidly. As one uncorks this particular Burgundy, the bouquet reveals layers of red fruits, subtle earthiness, and whispers of fine spices – a tapestry woven intricately with the threads of its terroir.
A Choreography of Climatic Challenges
Certainly, 2006 was not without its climatic hurdles. An inconsistent growing season led to vigilant sorting and a harvest that juggled precocity with patience. Yet, the expertise at Ponsot shines through in their Chapelle Chambertin Grand Cru. Their judicious craftsmanship during such a mercurial year has cultivated a wine that creates harmony out of capricious conditions.
On the palate, this 2006 serves as an expression of restrained power and finesse – the hallmark of Ponsot’s philosophy. Tannins have rounded sumptuously with age; whilst acidity maintains vivacity, offering a counterpoint to mature notes of forest floor and dried strawberry leading to a persistent finish.
An Elegant Component in the Portfolio
The structure and complexity present in the 2006 Chapelle Chambertin Grand Cru from Ponsot exemplify the attributes sought after by collectors and investors seeking both pleasure and promise in their cellars. It stands as an exquisite testament to Burgundy's enduring allure amidst a vintage replete with idiosyncrasies.
In the canon of investment-grade wines, this bottle represents an astute acquisition for those looking to add a touch of 2006’s unique narrative to their assemblage. For those who treasure the artistry encapsulated within each bottle, this Grand Cru is an epitome
Market price (USD)
$3,650.00
12x75cl
Highest score
93
POP score
230
Scores and tasting notes
The energy and lift here should persist in bottle for at least a decade, I predict, and are especially remarkable when one remembers that Ponsot eschews sulfur. Ponsot's 2006 Chapelle-Chambertin – his last-bottled wine of the vintage, and which I last tasted from its four barrels – offers smoke, leather, ripe plum, and high-toned maraschino in the nose, leading to a richly-fruited as well as richly meaty, yet bright and buoyant palate that proves transparent to mineral and animal nuances as well as prodigiously persistent. The ample tannins here are refined and deftly woven into the wine's fabric. This should be a superb candidate for 12-15 years fascinating evolution, though one that should already deliver enormous pleasure and intrigue as soon as it recovers from bottling. Didn't somebody speak about hail in this vineyard, too?! Picking chez Ponsot began predictably late – on September 27 – and lasted until October 5. As might have been expected, Laurent Ponsot acted rigorously in the vineyards in the immediate aftermath of hail and eventually on the sorting table (overseen, he notes, by an especially meticulous team of three young women) to insure that any effects were minimized. (For some notes on the often unorthodox methods Ponsot employs, readers should consult my report in issue 170.) Importer: Vineyard Brands, Birmingham, AL; tel. (205) 980-8802
David Schildknecht - The Wine Advocate, 21 December 2009