Wine Advisor
Claude Dugat, Charmes Chambertin Grand Cru 2012
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Stephen Tanzer
Bright, deep red. The nose shows a liqueur-like quality to the aromas of cherry, raspberry and mocha. Big, broad and sweet, delivering excellent dimension and depth and considerable power. The rich red fruit, coffee and cocoa powder flavors carry well on the sweet, very long finish, which is nicely shaped by the wine's tanic spine. This is less taut than it appeared to be from barrel a year ago, but it needs time to burn off some of its baby fat.
Reviewed by: Stephen Tanzer
Bright, dark red. Expressive, captivating aromas of dark cherry, raspberry, violet, rose petal and minerals. Very rich and sweet, but with excellent mineral grip and energy to the pliant flavors of red fruits and flowers. Most impressive today on the rising, very long finish. Boasts a rare combination of richness and inner-mouth tension.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
The 2012 Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru comes from Claudes’ 0.25-hectare parcel of vines. It has a strong marine influence on the nose that is well defined and expressive, carrying and absorbing the new oak with ease. The palate is medium-bodied with a satin-like texture, very well judged acidity and the new oak beautifully interwoven into the intense sorbet-fresh fruit on the harmonious finish. This is one of the finest wines from this vineyard. Six months after tasting his 2011s, I return to Claude Dugat to taste through his 2012s that he mentioned would soon be bottled. There was no point in retreading over the travails of the growing season. Claude said that he commenced the harvest on 17 or 18 September (he could not remember exactly which) and chaptalized the wines up to about half a degree. This was a splendid array of wines. Occasionally I feel that there could be a preponderance of new oak that can submerge the terroir, but in 2012 I discerned the oak to be beautifully assimilated and indeed, this was one of the finest set of wines I have tasted at the domaine since I first visited to sample Claude’s 2005s. Importer: Robert Kacher Selections, New York City; tel. (212) 239-1275.
Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni
Fleshy, round and supple, the 2012 Charmes-Chambertin is one of the most open and accessible of the 2012s today. Layers of deeply-pitched dark fruit flesh out in a powerful yet gracious, totally exquisite wine. Here it is the wine's soft contours and inviting personality that leave a long, lasting impression.
About the Producer
Domain Claude Dugat is a tiny domaine in Burgundy with cult status, and the quality to match. Claude Dugat has the good fortune to work in the Cellier des Dimes, purchased by his father Maurice in 1955. This, previously known as the Grange des Dimes, was where the locals would bring their tithe of grapes or cereal, depending on their holdings, for the benefit of the church. The building was constructed in 1219 though the stone pillars inside are thought to date back to Gallo-Roman times. The Dugats – Claude, assisted by his wife, son and two daughters – have three hectares of their own and a further three rented. The younger generation also run a very small negociant business alongside, La Gibryotte, just covering the wines of their commune – Bourgogne Rouge, Gevrey Chambertin, Gevrey Chambertin 1er cru (unspecified) and Charmes-Chambertin.
