Domaine G./Christophe* ROUMIER (Chambolle-Musigny) -- 2018 Tasted from Barrel

(Please see my overall comments on the 2018 Côte d’ Or vintage here.)

Christophe Roumier said that he began harvesting on 5 September. Harvesting lasted six days and he characterized it as “easy” and “quick.” Yields were normal and less than in 2017. Alcohols were relatively high -- up to 14.2º, although most were in the 13.2-14.0º range. Whole clusters are 35% for the village wine, about 50% in the premier cru wines and 55% in the grand cru wines. Christophe performed very little punchdown (pigeage) in 2018. Malolactic fermentations began in April and finished in July.

Wines marked with an asterisk (*) are labelled as Christophe Roumier; the other wines are labelled Domaine G. Roumier.

(Continue reading here.)

G. ROUMIER and Christophe ROUMIER (Chambolle-Musigny) -- 2016 Tasted from Barrel

(Originally published November 2017)

Christophe Roumier said that production was the lowest for the estate since 1971, down about 55% from a normal yield. No Bourgogne, Chambolle-Combottes, or Corton-Charlemagne was produced in 2016. He says that he never saw as strong a freeze as in 2016, not even in 1981.

Christophe said that where the vines froze, he feels more concentration in the wine. There was less new wood than usual, but whole clusters were employed, as indicated below. Where the vines froze, there was a smaller proportion of whole clusters than normal because of the very small grapes. In general, whole clusters comprised 30-35% for the village and premier cru wines, 55-60% for the grands crus. 

As I’ve previously mentioned, Christophe has an investor who has purchased about half an hectare of Bonnes-Mares (mostly white soils), bringing the total exploited up to 1.89ha. Additionally, there is is some Échézeaux (0.1311ha) that in the En Orveaux lieu-dit that will begin to be commercialized in 2017 (production in 2016 was too small to permit commercial distribution), and, finally, the sharecropper agreement that had underlain the Charmes-Chambertin has been superseded beginning with 2018, with Christophe getting the full production of the vineyard. The total surface area now exploited is 12.43 hectares. (Continue reading here.)

Domaine G./Christophe* ROUMIER (Chambolle-Muisgny) -- 2017 Tasted from Barrel and Bottle

Christophe Roumier said that he began the harvest on 8 September. Yields were normal; he did a green harvest in Les Cras and Bonnes-Mars, but not in the village Chambolle, Amoureuses, or Musigny. 

There were no whole clusters in the Bourgogne, the “normal" amount in the others, about half, except for the Musigny, which is 80% whole clusters.

Christophe said that there was a little less malic acidity than usual and that pHs were a little higher than usual. Malolactic fermentations began in May and finished in June and July.

He characterized the vintage as like 2014, but with a bit less fruit and more minerality and seriousness. He said that it was an easy year to do. 

These wines were racked just two weeks prior to my tasting them. (Continue reading here.)

Domaine G. ROUMIER (Chambolle-Musigny) -- 2015 Tasted from Bottle

(Originally published 9 August 2018.)

My description of 2015 vintage conditions at Roumier and notes on tasting these and other wines from barrel are here. (Continue reading here.)

Domaine G./Christophe* ROUMIER (Chambolle-Musigny) -- 2015 Tasted from Barrel

(Originally published 17 January 2017.)

Christophe Roumier said that overall yield in 2015 was just below average (whereas 2016 is the smallest since 1971). There is “a little” whole cluster fruit in these wines. Malolactic fermentations finished in June and July and the wines were racked in the beginning of September. He likens the vintage to 2005 but with more roundness, and at least for his wines, I agree with the comparison.

Wines marked with an asterisk (*) are sold under Christophe’s name. (Continue reading here.)