Wine Advisor
Jacques Frederic Mugnier, Chambolle Musigny 1er Cru Les Amoureuses 2012
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni
One of the clear highlights in the range, the 2012 Chambolle-Musigny Les Amoureuses is simply dazzling in the way it captures both the essence of site and the pure richness of the vintage. Layers of perfumed, silky red-fleshed fruit built to a gracious, textured finish full of the resonance and pure depth that is so typical of the year. Mugnier served the Amoureuses last among his 2012s in this tasting at the domaine, and it showed beautifully, even after the Grand Crus.
Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni
One of the more expressive wines in this range today, the 2012 Chambolle-Musigny Les Amoureuses is silky, layered and sensual to the core. I am very much looking forward to tasting the 2012 again in the future, as today it is almost certainly showing just the barest hint of its true potential. Although not fully formed, enough of the signatures are in place to have at least some idea of the wine's potential.
Reviewed by: Stephen Tanzer
Bright, dark red. Pungent aromas of raspberry, cranberry and crushed-stone minerality. Like liquid silk in the mouth, conveying compelling sweetness to its flavors of red berries, peppery herbs, dried flowers and spices. Perhaps most impressive today on the endless, palate-staining finish, which features aristocratic tannins, a saline impression of dry extract and compelling lingering perfume.
Reviewed by: Stephen Tanzer
Bright, dark red. Knockout nose of crushed blueberry, violet and licorice. Dense, sappy and vibrant, with superb energy and penetration to the flavors of dark berries, peony, lavender, spices and blood orange. Classically dry and wonderfully bright, finishing with a saline impression of strong dry extract and unflagging, echoing perfume.
About the Producer
Domaine Jacques-Frédéric Mugnier is a Burgundian wine producer based in Chambolle-Musigny. It is particularly well-known for its Musigny Grand Cru wine which is regarded as a benchmark for that vineyard. While the estate is most closely associated with Pinot Noir wines from Chambolle-Musigny, it has 10 hectares (25 acres) of vineyards in Nuits-Saint-Georges as well. The Château de Chambolle-Musigny has been owned by the Mugnier family since 1863. From 1950, as there was no winemaker in the family, the vineyards were contracted out to Faiveley and Bruno Clair, with the latter selling the wine in bulk. Between 1985 and 2004, Frédéric Mugnier was able to take back the vineyards as leases expired. On top of the Musigny Grand Cru, Jacques-Frédéric Mugnier makes a wine from the Bonnes-Mares Grand Cru vineyard, as well as two premier cru wines, Les Fuées and Les Amoureuses, and a village-level wine. From the Nuits-Saint-Georges holdings, Mugnier makes a Clos des Fourches premier cru wine, and a red and a white premier cru from the Clos de la Maréchale vineyard, which is a monopole of the domaine. Vineyards are farmed without herbicides or pesticides and just two mildew treatments per year. Grapes are de-stemmed and whole berries are fermented in old open wooden vats. After around 16 months in oak, wines are bottled without fining and filtration.
