2019 Henri Rebourseau Charmes-Chambertin

Domaine Henri Rebourseau traces its history to the late 18th century, when Claude Rebourseau settled in Burgundy and began a winemaking family dynasty. The family acquired vineyards for several generations, and by the late 20th century the estate includes 35 acres primarily in Clos de Vougeot and Gevrey-Chambertin. Today the estate is run by Jean de Surrel, a descendant of the founder. The estate has Grand Cru parcels in Clos de Vougeot, Charmes-Chambertin, Mazis-Chambertin, Chambertin, and Clos de Beze.

Charmes-Chambertin is a 78-acre Grand Cru vineyard in Gevrey-Chambertin that traditionally includes the acreage of nearby Mazoyeres-Chambertin. For nearly 200 years the growers of Mazoyeres have been legally allowed to sell their wines under the more famous name of Charmes-Chambertin, and virtually all of them do. Charmes-Chambertin is the largest of the Gevrey-Chambertin Grand Crus, and it generally has an excellent reputation. The slope of the vineyard is gentle and the surface soil poor. But producers including Joseph Roty, Christian Serafin, Domaine Dujac, Faiveley and Joseph Drouhin are acclaimed for their Charmes Chambertin. Principal landholders are Camus, with 14.75 acres; Perrot-Minot, 4 acres; and Armand Rousseau, 3.5 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.