Charmes Chambertin		1989	C. Serafin

2/98. Acquired in auction Dec-96 for $55 (imported for $80 net).
Tonight I took this bottle to a good restaurant in Tel-Aviv.
Normally I don't count Charmes Chambertin with the true Grand Cru of Gevrey-Chambertin though I've had some good examples in the past. Christian Serafin makes this wine from his ridiculously tiny parcel of 0.12 ha in Charmes Chambertin.
COLOR: Medium brick-red, noticeable clearing around the rim. The wine had some murkiness to it though I could not detect any sediment.
NOSE: Very nice bouquet of semi-mature red fruit, already well integrated with the earthy, leathery 'Bourgogne Nose'. Some oak add a touch of vanilla to the lovely nose.
TASTE: Fruit, acidity and soft tannins give the wine a finely balanced complexity on the palate. Quite delicate and elegant, even 'feminine'. More a Chambolle than a Gevrey in character. Very tasty though lacks the depth I expect from a Gevrey Grand Cru.
LENGTH: Nothing to write home about.
TEXTURE & BALANCE: Medium-light bodied. Quite forward though not yet totally mature. Very finely balanced but could use some more grip.
OVERALL: Excellent mid-range (B). Would probably suffer if compared side by side to a truly great Grand Cru, but extremely tasty and pleasant judged on its own.
MARK: 17/20.aaaaaaaaBUY MORE? Maybe.

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Copyright 1996-2003.
Jacob "Yak" Shaya.