Charmes-Chambertin is the largest Grand Cru appellation in Gevrey-Chambertin, covering approximately 30.8 hectares and producing Pinot Noir of genuine Grand Cru quality with a style that is notably more generous, accessible and approachable in youth than the more austere and demanding expressions of Chambertin and Chambertin-Clos de Bèze. For collectors who want to engage with the Gevrey-Chambertin Grand Cru tier through wines that reward patience without requiring quite the same extreme of it, Charmes-Chambertin provides the most natural and compelling entry point.
The vineyard includes Mazoyères-Chambertin within its boundaries, and wines produced from the Mazoyères section may be sold under either the Charmes or Mazoyères appellation. In practice, almost all producers choose to sell under the better-known Charmes-Chambertin name.
Charmes-Chambertin at a Glance
Charmes-Chambertin is a Grand Cru vineyard of approximately 30.8 hectares in Gevrey-Chambertin, Cote de Nuits, Burgundy. Grand Cru status was officially granted in 1937. The vineyard is situated south of Chambertin and Chambertin-Clos de Bèze, extending toward Morey-Saint-Denis, on deeper clay-limestone soils that produce wines of greater generosity and earlier accessibility than the neighbouring Grand Crus. The style is richer, more immediately expressive and more approachable in youth than Chambertin, whilst retaining genuine Grand Cru depth and ageing potential. Leading producers include Claude Dugat, Bernard Dugat-Py and Domaine Duroche.
The Vineyard and Its Character
Charmes-Chambertin extends along the hillside south of Chambertin, on soils that gradually become deeper and richer in clay content as the vineyard descends toward Morey-Saint-Denis. This deeper soil composition, compared with the thinner, more limestone-dominant soils of Chambertin and Clos de Bèze, contributes directly to the more generous and textural character that distinguishes Charmes-Chambertin from its more structurally demanding Grand Cru neighbours.
The large size of the vineyard means that the quality and character of wines from Charmes-Chambertin can vary more significantly with the specific parcel farmed and the philosophy of the individual producer than in the smaller, more homogeneous Grand Crus. The upper sections of the vineyard, closer in soil composition to Chambertin, tend to produce the most structured and long-lived wines, whilst the lower sections, with deeper clay content, produce wines of greater early accessibility and textural richness.
The name "Charmes" is derived from the French word for hornbeam, a tree that historically grew in the area, though the association between the name and the characteristically charming and approachable style of the wines is a coincidence that has not been lost on those who write about the appellation.
Style of Wine
Charmes-Chambertin produces Pinot Noir of genuine Grand Cru depth and longevity, with a style that is markedly more generous and accessible than the neighbouring Chambertin and Chambertin-Clos de Bèze. The wines typically show ripe red cherry, dark plum, blackberry and subtle spice alongside a mineral depth and structural integration that develops progressively over ten to twenty years.
In youth, Charmes-Chambertin is more immediately expressive than most Gevrey-Chambertin Grand Crus, with fruit character that is more forward and the tannic structure somewhat more supple. This accessibility should not suggest a lack of depth; the finest expressions from Claude Dugat and Bernard Dugat-Py develop considerable complexity over fifteen to twenty years and represent the Grand Cru tier at a level of quality that fully justifies the appellation.
The Producers of Charmes-Chambertin
Claude Dugat's Charmes-Chambertin is produced from old vines within the Grand Cru, combining the extraordinary concentration and aromatic intensity of the estate's house style with the more generous and textural character of this site. It is one of the most sought-after and difficult to secure expressions of Charmes-Chambertin and develops magnificently over fifteen or more years.
Bernard Dugat-Py produces a Charmes-Chambertin of impressive old-vine concentration and aromatic depth, combining the estate's philosophy of minimal intervention with the richness and generosity that the Charmes vineyard delivers. It is consistently one of the most complete and compelling expressions of this Grand Cru.
Pierre Duroche's Charmes-Chambertin brings the estate's elegant and mineral approach to one of the more generous Grand Cru sites in Gevrey-Chambertin, producing a wine that combines the site's natural accessibility with the precision and restraint of a producer who consistently seeks elegance over weight.
Why Collect Charmes-Chambertin?
Charmes-Chambertin offers collectors the most accessible and generous entry point to the Grand Cru tier of Gevrey-Chambertin, with wines that combine genuine Grand Cru depth and longevity with a style that rewards earlier opening and a broader appeal than the most austere and demanding of the Gevrey Grand Crus. For collectors building a Gevrey-Chambertin Grand Cru cellar, Charmes-Chambertin provides an essential complementary perspective on the range of expression that this remarkable hillside delivers.
All Charmes-Chambertin wines purchased through Fine Wine Library are held In Bond, excise duty free, with guaranteed provenance.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the relationship between Charmes-Chambertin and Mazoyères-Chambertin?
The Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru appellation includes the Mazoyères-Chambertin vineyard within its boundaries. Wines from Mazoyères may legally be sold as either Charmes-Chambertin or Mazoyères-Chambertin. In practice, almost all producers choose to sell under the more commercially familiar Charmes-Chambertin name.
How does Charmes-Chambertin compare to Chambertin?
Charmes-Chambertin is considerably more accessible and generous in style than Chambertin, with deeper soils that produce wines of greater early fruit expressiveness and a less demanding tannic structure. Chambertin is the more powerful, austere and age-demanding of the two, whilst Charmes offers genuine Grand Cru depth at a style that rewards earlier cellaring.
How long should Charmes-Chambertin be cellared?
The finest examples from the leading producers benefit from eight to fifteen years of cellaring before showing their best complexity and depth. The most concentrated old-vine expressions from producers such as Claude Dugat and Bernard Dugat-Py can continue developing for twenty or more years.
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