2006 Domaine Francois Bertheau, Chambolle-Musigny, Red Burgundy, France.
This was a pleasant surprise, I have been tasting quite a few new vintage wines and didn’t expect to be so pleased with this lovely and stylish 2006, but the Francois Bertheau Chambolle was fresh and delightful gaining depth and complexity with every minute of air and turning into quite a fine expression of grape and place. The 2006 Domaine Francois Bertheau starts a bit reduced with some earth, funk, graphite and some hard edges, but with only a few swirls in the glass things change for the better with dried roses, pretty herbs and red currant fruit emerging in nice detail and in the mouth a lush array of cherry, raspberry, tangy plum and red peach start flowing along with a hint of green olive, camphor, forest floor, chalky stones and tobacco leaf. Every is bright and vigorous, juicy acidity keeping things from getting muddled, for a few more moments, then this Pinot Noir unveils an inner softness and a tender side when the tannin seems to turn to silk and the fruit turns delicate and flowing with strawberry and cedar lingering with traces of rosewater on the succulent finish. This should drink well for another 3 to 5 years easy, it is not overly dark in color and feels old school and light hearted, but it delivers more than enough to keep a huge smile on your face and looks like a good value when comparing Chambolle prices, this is a solid wine that would be a great find on a wine list, drink from 2016 to 2021.
($79 Est.) 92 Points, grapelive
