Losses here were heavy in parts of Gevrey-Chambertin, not to mention the Côte de Beaune holdings. Losses were not only due to the frost, but also the following mildew, which seems to have posed a special challenge to many biodynamic estates such as this one in 2016.
At harvest, there was a little triage, but most of the grapes were healthy. There was just a little chaptalization — to extend fermentation time. As in 2015 and 2017, here was no pigeage (punching down). About 25-30% whole clusters were included in the wines. Malolactic fermentations here were very early, finished by Christmas 2016. Overall, the wines seemed lighter in extraction and more elegant than in some other vintages here presumably a result of the lack of pigeage.
The lesser appellations should be bottled around Christmas this year; for the remainder, bottling should take place from February through the end of May 2018.
2016 Bourgogne Pinot Noir
This wine is pretty, light, and elegant with fresh strawberry and red currant fruit. (85-89)
2016 Beaune 1er Cru Les Teurons
The dark fruits are are mineral, fresh, and pure, making for a most attractive wine. Yield, alas, was a mere 8 hl/ha. (90-93)
2016 Gevrey-Chambertin vieilles vignes
This wine has fresh dark berries and good energy. (88-91)
2016 Gevrey-Chambertin Aux Ételois
The Ételois, from a lieu-dit just below Griotte-Chambertin, shows Griotte-Chambertin-like red cherries and is dense, pure, and long. (88-91)
2016 Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Les Cherbaudes
This wine is light, pure, and charming with outstanding finesse. The fruits are red, and there is less tension than I usually find in this wine. (88-92)
2016 Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Aux Combottes
The Combottes is spicy and racy with red currant fruit, a medium-weight body, lightness on the palate. It is good and typical Combottes. (90-93)
2016 Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Les Corbeaux
The Corbeaux has dark fruit and here we do have good tension and energy that are typical of this vineyard. (90-94)
2016 Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Clos Prieur
Clos Prieur is downslope from Mazis-Chambertin and good Clos Prieur, such as this one, shows plenty of Mazis-like character. Here, we have dark plums in the nose with power and energy, and more weight than in the preceding wines. (91-95)
2016 Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Petite Chapelle
The Petite Chapelle has red fruits with dustiness and minerality. The wein is light on the palate but not as tightly-wound as in some years. (90-93)
2016 Latricières-Chambertin
Rossignol-Trapet’s Latricières-Chambertin displays deep, penetrating dark fruits with a smooth texture, salinity, minerality, and energy. It is a classic for this vineyard. Only 35% of normal production for this wine. (92-95)
2016 Chapelle-Chambertin
The Chapelle-Chambertin shows the excellent tension characteristic of the vineyard. The fruits are dark and the wine features minerality, nervosity, and energy. 70% of normal production for this wine. (93-96)
2016 Chambertin
Last, the Chambertin is round and pure with freshness, energy, and minerality — it is a classic Chambertin. Alas, only 15% of normal production. (93-96)