2002 Rossignol-Trapet Chapelle-Chambertin

Rossignol-Trapet is a 35-acre domain in Chambertin. Its history is intertwined with two great winemaking families, the Trapets and the Rossignols, who are related by marriage. When Jean Trapet and his brother-in-law Jacques Rossignol retired in 1990, the Trapet domaine was divided among the next generation. Today Rossignol-Trapet is run by Nicolas Rossignol. Rossignol-Trapet has Grand Cru parcels in Chambertin, Latricieres-Chambertin and Chapelle-Chambertin. There are also Premier Cru and villages wines. Clive Coates calls the domaine “a very good source.”

Chapelle-Chambertin is a 13.5-acre Grand Cru vineyard just north of Griotte-Chambertin in the village of Gevrey-Chambertin. Its name comes from the chapel of Notre Dame de Beze, a chapel built in 1155 by the monks of Abbey de Beze and demolished several centuries later during the French Revolution. There is not much slope in this vineyard, nor much soil. Louis Jadot and Claude Dugat have small parcels here, though the largest landholders are Pierre Damoy, 5 acres; Ponsot 1.7 acres; and Jean and Jean-Louis Trapet, 1.5 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.