Grapelive Daily Pick
By Kerry Winslow
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2007 Patrice Rion Chambolle-Musingy “Les Cras” Red Burgundy, France.
Patrice Rion has been the winemaker at the family domaine, Domaine Daniel Rion since 1977 and started with his wife and son a side business under his own label, and this wine comes from that project that began in 2000. He has contacted some growers to farm in an environmentally friendly way to produce the best possible grapes, and this as a result of that practice shows he is on to something, for even in a very difficult vintage as 2007 was, Patrice Rion’s wines show good length, depth and pure fruit. I must say the wines are much more clean and more my style than the one’s under the Daniel Rion label I’ve had in the past, and I can really just enjoy and savor them for the clear and clean Pinot flavors they show, with this 2007 Chambolle-Musigny “Les Cras” being my personal favorite for quality and price. The nose is sweet and smoky with a palate of ripe cherries, raspberry, a touch of blueberry and some plum with silky smooth texture and a creamy finish. There are some light tannins and hidden acidity, but the fruit is the star here and just touches of mineral and subtle wood notes frame it nicely. ($69 Est.) 92 Points, grapelive
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