1998 Domaine Bertagna Chambertin

Domaine Bertagna is a 52-acre estate in the Cotes de Nuits. It was established in the 1950s by Claude Bertagna but since 1982 it has been owned by the Gunther Reh family, a German family of wine entrepreneurs and estate owners. Today the estate produces wine from 18 appellations, including five Grand Crus. The domain itself is in Vougeot. It has Grand Cru parcels in Clos Saint-Denis, Clos de Vougeot, Corton-Charlemagne, Corton Les Grandes Lolieres, and Chambertin. There are also numerous Premier Crus, including the monopole Clos de la Perriere in Vougeot.

Chambertin is a 32.5 acre Grand Cru vineyard in the Gevrey-Chambertin appellation. More than 25 proprietors own parcels, and some parcels are as small as about 50 square yards. The famous vineyard gets its name from a 7th century peasant, Monsieur Bertin. The name is assumed to come from the phrase “champ Bertin,” or Bertin’s field. Chambertin has an altitude that varies from 275 to 300 meters and is tucked under the Montagne de la Combe-Grisard, sheltering the site from strong winds. The soil is limestone, though there is also clay and gravel. Principal proprietors by acreage owned are Armand Rousseau, 5.38 acres; Jean and Jean-Louis Trapet, 4.75 acres; and Rossignol-Trapet, 4 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.