1996 Geantet-Pansiot Charmes-Chambertin, 1.5ltr

Geantet-Pansiot was founded in 1954 when Edmond Geantet married Bernadette Pansiot and the newlyweds began farming a 7-acre vineyard in Gevrey-Chambertin, in Burgundy’s Cote de Nuits. Today the estate is run by their son Vincent and his son Fabien, and it has grown to 32 acres. The estate makes many red and white Burgundies, as well as a rose. Of special note are Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru, and Premier Crus from Gevrey-Chambertin and Chambolle-Musigny. Clive Coates has noted that “These are intensely flavored wines…there is succulent perfumed fruit and good balance…”

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.