2009 Paul Chapelle, Santenay “Gravieres” Premier Cru Red Burgundy, France.
The Paul Chapelle wines have to be some of the most underrated wines in all of Burgundy, here a guy who worked with or consulted for De Montille, Jobard and Ramonet, plus Lafarge and Simon Bize, and yet almost no one knows about him or his wonderful wines! I can tell you, I’ve been a fan for years, not even knowing his history, I must thank Beaune Imports from showing me these wines many years back, I have enjoyed many a Paul Chapelle Cote de Beaune wine at home, his Puligny and Meursault wines especially, but the is this glorious and pretty little Santenay Premier Cru Gravieres too, it s a lovely Pinot Noir with class, grace and vigor that screams “Here I am and you can afford me, take me home!” and you know what? I did, and I hope to do so again often! I can honestly say, Paul Chapelle makes better whites, but you should not pass up his Santenay, there are not much better Pinot Noirs out there at this price. These wines are old school, pure and traditional, you can see from the guys Paul worked for or with to understand what he believes and this 2009 Santenay Premier Cru Gravieres showcases this brilliantly with about 13% alcohol and loads of chalky mineral/stony elements this is not a fat/fleshy wine, but a wine with savvy, finesse and still generous with round, pleasing texture and persistency with black cherry, plum and cranberry fruits, briar, spice, dusty tannins (very Volnay like) and mild cedar, fig paste, and loamy earth. With air things fill out as you’d expect from a ripe vintage, but focus and vibrancy hold true, this is sexy-classy in the same glass. Drink now, or hold for a few years, best from 2015 to 2020. Paul Chapelle & ses Filles from Le Poil, Montagny-les-Beaune, makes an honest Burgundy, these are wine lovers wines not fashion labels, but stylish and great values, be sure to check them out soon.
($40 Est.) 93 Points, grapelive