Bouchard Pere & Fils, Chapelle Chambertin Grand Cru 2012

robert_parker92

Reviewed by: Neal Martin

The 2012 Chapelle-Chambertin Grand Cru, which is apparently always sourced from the same grower, has a floral bouquet with crushed violets developing on the nose. The palate is medium-bodied, the one-third new oak nicely integrated, with a chewy blackcurrant pastille and white pepper finish that feels long in the mouth. This is not the most complex Chapelle-Chambertin, but it has the substance to age nicely over 15 to 20 years. Although I tasted the wines of this Burgundy grand maison in London, I spent a morning with winemaker Philippe Prost to go through at least part of their large portfolio to get an insight into Bouchard Pere & Fils. Ever since Michel Bouchard established the house in 1731, it has been a permanent fixture in Burgundy, surviving seizure by the State after the Revolution, phylloxera, two World Wars and periods when the world simply was uninterested in Burgundy. Today they own 130 hectares of vines, more than any Bordeaux chateau, including 12 grand crus and 74 premier crus. Importer: Henriot Inc. and John E. Fells in the UK.