1989 Domaine Bachelet Charmes Chambertin Vieilles Vignes

Domaine Bachelet in Gevrey-Chambertin, is a 10-acre estate run by Denis Bachelet. Although Bachelet has been producing wines only since 1983, he has many fans, among them Robert M. Parker Jr., who has described Bachelet as “an excellent producer” who has “a lot of talent and a good touch for allowing the fruit of the wine to come through in a pure, unfettered manner.” Bachelet makes a Grand Cru Gevrey-Chambertin and Premier Crus. His vines are 30 to 100 years old. Though the domaine produces very limited quantities of wine, it has a cult following among Burgundy collectors.

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.