Domaine François BERTHEAU -- 2013s from Cask

 Domaine François BERTHEAU (Chambolle-Musigny)

2013s  from Cask

François Bertheau said that he began harvesting on October 6. Some triage was necessary in the vineyards in the week before harvest. As is customary here, all grapes were destemmed. There was some chapatalization. Malolactic fermentations lasted longer than usual, finishing in April (usually, they finish very early here – in December). François expects to bottle in February 2015. The crop is about the same size as 2012, which means half a normal crop.

2013 Chambolle-Musigny

I found the Chambolle to be a little volatile in the nose (and I am not especially sensitive to volatile acidity), hence the question mark in my score. The mouth showed red fruits with a bit of an edge, the texture was smooth, and there was some minerality in the wine. (85-88?)

2013 Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru

This wine shows dark fruit in the nose. The mouth features dark plums with good acidity in a medium-weight body with a little licorice showing on the finish. This is a pretty wine. (88-92)

2013 Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru – Les Charmes

The Charmes shows crunchy dark fruit with nice acidity and good substance and length. (89-93)

2013 Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru – Les Amoureuses

This wine is sensual with good complexity and length to its dark plum fruit and it shows some minerality. (92-95)

2013 Bonnes-Mares

Although overall production for Bertheau was about the same in 2013 as in 2012, in 2013 he did have enough crop to make a Bonnes-Mares, which was not the case in 2012. The wine is dark with finesse and sensuality. It is very forward with a smooth texture. There may not be a lot of terroir here, but this is a greatly pleasing wine, and one that I’d want to drink now. (91-95)