Bouchard Père & Fils, Chambertin-Clos de Bèze Grand Cru, Burgundy, France, 2011

Overview of the Wine
Founded in 1731 in Beaune by Michel Bouchard, Bouchard Père & Fils, is one of the oldest wine estates in Burgundy, perpetuating tradition for nearly 3 centuries and 9 generations.

In 1775, Joseph Bouchard acquired his first vineyards in Volnay in the famous “Les Caillerets” climat and started to develop the family’s vineyard holdings.

During the French Revolution, property belonging to the clergy and nobility was confiscated and put up for sale. Joseph’s son, Antoine Philibert Joseph Bouchard, seized the opportunity to extend the family’s vineyard holdings in Beaune including the famous “Beaune Grèves Vigne de l’Enfant Jesus.”

This desire to build up an exceptional estate in Côte d’Or endured through the generations and acquisitions in the best Villages were added throughout the 19th century and again in the early 20th century.

Bouchard Père et Fils has been owned by the Maison de Champagne Henriot since 1995, and is currently headed by Christophe Bouchard, who has, in a few years, given a new lease of life to the expression of the estate's vineyards, and a coherence without false note to the trading activity that complements.

Grape / Blend
Pinot Noir

Origin
Cote de Nuits, Cote d'Or, Burgundy, France

Winemaker Notes
Intense aromas on the nose. Structured - though not excessively - and with lovely fleshiness, this is a sumptuous wine. Very good ageing potential.

93-96 Points - Burghound
This is also moderately toasty though it's not enough to hide the hallmark spiciness of a classic Clos de Bèze along with ripe black Pinot fruit, stone and game nuances. There is excellent richness and impressive volume to the extract-rich mid-palate that imparts a seductive mouth feel to the medium-weight flavors. The aspect that is really remarkable here though is just the sheer depth, which when coupled with the superb length make for one exciting wine. Note carefully though that this will also need extended cellaring. *Don't Miss!* Drink: 2028+

95 Points - John Gilman
The Chambertin Clos de Bèze from Bouchard Père et Fils is not from the domaine’s own vines, but it is consistently a superb example of this fine vineyard and this is certainly the case with this great 2011. The deep and complex bouquet offers up a classic mélange of cherries, raspberries, coffee, grilled meats, a complex base of dark soil tones, woodsmoke, mustard seed and a bit of spicy new wood. On the palate the wine is pure, full-bodied and beautifully focused, with outstanding mid-palate depth, ripe tannins, nascent complexity and superb length and grip on the poised and beautifully-balanced finish. An absolutely classic example of Clos de Bèze!

92 Points - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Tasted blind at the Burgundy 2011 horizontal tasting in Beaune. The Chambertin Clos de Bèze 2011 from Bouchard seems more introspective on the nose: cranberry, wild strawberry, a hint of tomato vine and woodland aromas. It takes some coaxing from the glass, eventually offering hints of Seville orange. The palate is full-bodied and dense. There is a lot of fruit intensity here with bold tannins and good depth, but unlike the Clos-de-Bèze from Rousseau it does not own the same level of precision and comes across a little aggressive by comparison. Still, time mellows us all.

Product size: 750ml