1966 Jaboulet-Vercherre Charmes-Chambertin, 3-bottle Lot

Jaboulet-Vercherre is a negociant and a domaine with roots in the Rhone Valley, where it was established in the early 19th century. It still produces Chateauneuf-du-Pape and other Rhones in the Rhone Valley. However in 1920 the firm opened cellars in Beaune, Burgundy, and now has more than 30 acres of vineyards in Burgundy. The domaine produces Pinot Noir and Chardonnay in Burgundy. Its best-known wines are Pommard-Clos de la Commaraine and Beaune-Clos de L’Ecu. Jaboulet-Vercherre makes nearly 750,000 cases of wine annually as a negociant.

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.