2008 Pierre Bouree Fils Charmes-Chambertin

Domaine Pierre Bouree Fils in Gevrey-Chambertin is owned and operated by brothers Bernard and Jean-Christophe Valet. They are descended from the founder of the domaine, Pierre Bouree, who in the mid-19th century founded a wine business and acquired a vineyard. The domaine consists of 12 acres with Grand Cru and Premier Cru parcels in Charmes Chambertin, as well as villages wines and a monopole in Clos-de-la-Justice. The domaine also has a Beaune Premier Cru parcel, Les Epenottes. The enterprise is also a negociant, and buys grapes for a large portfolio of red and white Burgundies.

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.