2009 - Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Champeaux Vieille Vigne, Fourrier

The 2009 Gevrey-Chambertin Les Champeaux is marvelously complex and complete. Everything is in the right place, from the expressive bouquet to the sweet, delineated fruit. Crushed rocks and sweet spices add further nuance before the wine starts closing in on itself. This is a muscular, intense Burgundy that needs time in the bottle to soften. Anticipated maturity: 2019-2029. Count me among the Burgundy fans who are thrilled Jean-Marie Fourrier chose not to pursue the career as a commercial airline pilot for which he studied. Fourrier began picking on September 17. The fruit was destemmed. Cuvaison lasted around 14 days but Fourrier commented that he had an unusually high (50%) amount of shot berries, which had the effect of extending the fermentations for another week or so. The malos started and ended early, hence Fourrier decided to bottle early as well. Per his usual practice, Fourrier left the wines on the lees with no racking until the wines were prepared for bottling. On average the wines saw 20% new oak. I tasted all of the 2009s from bottle. Importer: Rosenthal Wine Merchant, Pine Plains, NY; tel. (800) 910-1990