Rare Wine #1 What is the Burgundy wine “Chambertin Grand Cru” that you want to drink someday?

``I want to drink rare, high-quality wine just once'' is a feeling that all wine lovers share.
And one of the wines that wine lovers rate as ``rare and luxurious!'' is ``Chambertin Grand Cru.''

Chambertin Grand Cru is hailed as the "king" in the Burgundy region, which produces numerous masterpieces.
It has been renowned as the highest quality wine since ancient times, and it is still a leading wine in France.

The quality is so high that even top wine connoisseurs can't help but nod their heads, and there is even a historical fact that ``Napoleon loved drinking it.''
In this article, we will explain the charm, history, and other lineup of Chambertin Grand Cru.

What kind of rare wine is Chambertin Grand Cru?

Basic information about Chambertin Grand Cru

Chambertin Grand Cru is a typical fine red wine.

Officially, it is given the brand name ``Gevrey-Chambertin,'' but for convenience, it will be written as ``Chambertin Grand Cru.''

As mentioned at the beginning, it is known as the ``King of Burgundy Wine'' and is admired by all wine lovers.

"Grand Cru" means "exclusive field".
In fact, in the Burgundy region, vineyards are ranked based on how good they are.

There are 4 ranks,

• grand cru
• Premier Cru
• communal
• regional

It is divided like this.

Grand Crus are said to be ``the rarest and best vineyards in France, or even in the world.''
In other words, Chambertin Grand Cru is a red wine made from grapes grown in the best vineyards.

In addition to its traditional manufacturing methods and history, Chambertin Grand Cru is already special when it comes to grapes.

The taste of Chambertin Grand Cru

Chambertin Grand Cru is characterized by its rich and powerful flavor.
Rich in tannins and minerals,
Another characteristic of Chambertin Grand Cru is that it can be aged for a long time.

Chambertin Grand Cru can be aged for over 20 years.
By aging it, it will take on a different and different look.

"Côte d'Or" where Chambertin Grand Cru is made

?Chambertin Grand Cru is produced in the Burgundy region of Cote d'Or.
The Côte d'Or is one of the best wine-producing regions in the Burgundy region, the holy land of wine.

The Côte d'Or is home to nine Grand Crus, the most in Burgundy.
Even if Cote d'Or is not a Grand Cru, it is in such a blessed environment that it can only be considered that it was created for the purpose of making wine.
It is a special place that continues to produce rare wines of various brands for a long time.
Among these, the Pinot Noir used in Chambertin Grand Cru is grown in even more selective locations.

In the Côte d'Or, the Grand Crus spread out at an altitude of about 300 meters.
It is probably the place with the most sunny conditions in France.

Code d'Or has a so-called "semi-continental climate" with large temperature differences between summer and winter. Grapes grow healthily in this climate.

Of course, we are also blessed with soil.
The Côte d'Or is dominated by strong limestone slabs.
Therefore, the soil contains limestone and iron oxide, a perfect combination for wine.
The rich tannins, metallic attack, and masculine richness are influenced by this soil.

History of Chambertin Grand Cru

The history of Chambertin dates back to the 13th century.
Around the 13th century, wine from a certain monastery's vineyard became a bit of a boom.
This vineyard was later located in Clos de Bèze.

A farmer named ``Bertin'' heard about the boom and began producing similar wines right next to the monastery's fields.
Of course, just because you're making wine next door doesn't mean your wine making will be successful.
However, Bertin has established a method of producing wine with the same quality as the wine made in the monastery.

This wine became known as ``Champ de Bertin'' (Bertin Field).
After that, the name changed to "Chambertin" to make it easier to pronounce.

Time passed and in 1812, war broke out between France and Russia (Russian Campaign of 1812).
At that time, the great hero Napoleon I led the French army to invade Russia.

Napoleon was so fond of Chambertin that he took it with him when he invaded Russia.
There is also a shocking anecdote that Napoleon said, ``After learning about Chambertin, he never tasted any other wine.''

However, it may be a little unnatural for Napoleon, who was in a position to have access to all kinds of wine, to say he would not touch anything else.
Nor will all the parties he attends feature Chambertin.

However, at the time such an episode is told, does it not indicate that Napoleon was at least devoted to Chambertin?

Thanks in part to this, Chambertin gained overwhelming fame.
In 1848, it was given a new name: Gevrey-Chambertin.
Gevrey was the name of the village where Chambertin was produced at the time.

Apparently, the head of Gevray decided on the current name because he wanted to brand Chambertin by adding the village's name to it.
The idea is similar to naming a certain Japanese beef from Mie Prefecture "Matsuzaka Beef."

As a result, the village of Gevray, which was just a small part of the French countryside, became known all over the world.

various chambertins

Chambertin currently has a variety of other products in addition to the Grand Cru introduced at the beginning.
Although Grand Cru wines are excellent, the downside is that they are difficult to obtain at a reasonable price.

However, Chambertins like the one below are of excellent quality even though they are modest in price.
You will be able to enjoy the ``character'' of Chambertin.

However, some Chambertins are of inferior quality depending on the domaine.
Some of them are far from common Chambertin.
When choosing Chambertin, we recommend not choosing one from a domaine that has not been evaluated.

Domaine Fourier/Gevrey Chambertin [2018] (12,430 yen including tax)

A bottle that combines the powerful flavor unique to Chambertin and the umami flavor with plenty of tannins.
It's so reasonable that even wine lovers wonder why it's being distributed at this low price.
As it ages, it develops into a richer and richer flavor.

[blogcard url="https://www.winenation.jp/view/item/000000005144"]

Bouchard Père et Fils/ Gevrey Chambertin [2014] (3,465 yen including tax)

Among the "cheap" Chambertins, Pouchard is extremely popular.
The taste of iron and black cherry comes to the fore, without forgetting the elegance of Chambertin.
The price is also reasonable, so it's a good idea to try it out.

[blogcard url="https://www.winenation.jp/view/item/000000000481"]

When is the best year for Chambertin?

Generally speaking, the lucky years for Chambertin are as follows:
Not only is it highly rated, but its price is high, and it is sometimes traded for more than 1,00,000 yen.
Although it is a super rare wine that is difficult for ordinary people to afford, I would like to try it even if it's only for one glass.

2005 when we didn't get hit by rain

2005 was a year of good weather, with not much rain.
It was also cool throughout the year, providing the perfect environment for grapes.
The 2005 Chambertin has a very natural taste and is easy to drink.

2009, finished like Chambertin

It was a relatively warm year, and the weather was on our side.
It has a well-balanced taste and aroma, and is said to be ``simply well-made.''
It can be said that the finish is most typical of Chambertin.

2015, a year in which we did not lose to the rain

In 2015, we had a series of rainy days around April.
However, the grapes have a concentrated flavor and sweetness, making them a surprisingly successful year.
It has a very powerful and fresh taste.

Dishes that go well with Chambertin

Chambertin is a typical wine and is said to pair well with meat dishes.
Chambertin Grand Cru in particular has a strong taste, so it is often paired with game dishes.

In addition, any of the lineups goes well with meat dishes, including game meat.
We especially recommend pairing it with roast or steak.
Basically, no matter what the lineup is, if it goes well with red wine, it will create a marriage.

Summary: First, let's taste the Chambertin family

Chambertin Grand Cru is a rare and luxurious wine that is said to be among the best in the world.
The region of production, the grapes used as raw materials, the taste...it is different from regular wine in every respect.
Isn't it no wonder that the legendary hero, Napoleon, loved drinking it?
Modern wine lovers, like Napoleon, are given the chance to taste Chambertin Grand Cru.

However, it is true that the pricing is not such that you would want to buy and drink it right away.
As introduced in this article, there is also a reasonably priced Chambertin family, so it would be a good idea to try those first. Even if it's not a Grand Cru, you should be able to enjoy the impressive taste.

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