2002 Frederic Esmonin Chambertin Clos de Beze

Domaine Frederic Esmonin and Domaine des Estournelles are both owned and operated by Andre Esmonin and his son Frederic. The family is in Gevrey-Chambertin and they own or lease a total of 15-acres. Until the late 1980s most of what the family grew went to negociants such as Jadot, but starting in the early 1990s the Esmonins made very limited amounts of wine under their own labels. Today they have Grand Cru parcels in Ruchottes-Chambertin, Mazis-Chambertin, Chambertin Clos de Beze, Bonnes-Mares and Chambertin. They have Premier Cru parcels in Gevrey-Chambertin. The Esmonins also run a small negociant business.

Chambertin Clos-de-Beze is a Grand Cru vineyard in Gevrey-Chambertin, and its history goes back to the 7th century when it was owned by the monks of the Abbey of Beze. After the French Revolution the Catholic Church was forced to divide the vineyard among peasants. Today it is a 38-acre vineyard, making it slightly larger than Chambertin. Chambertin and Chambertin Clos-de-Beze are adjacent and share similar limestone, clay and gravel soils. Of the 18 proprietors, the largest by acreage are Pierre Damoy, 13.4 acres; Armand Rousseau, 3.5 acres; and Drouhin-Laroze, 3.48 acres.

This red wine is relatively light and can pair with a wide variety of foods. The grape prefers cooler climates and the wine is most often associated with Burgundy, Champagne and the U.S. west coast. Regional differences make it nearly as fickle as it is flexible.