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93+ WA. "Scents of plums, wild berries, sweet spices, raw cocoa and orange rind preface the 2019 Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru Les Chatelots, a medium to full-bodied, ample and lively wine that's deep and concentrated, with bright acids and powdery tannins that gently assert themselves on the finish. As with all of Barthod's wines, it's built to age, though the charm of the vintage makes it deceptively approachable already. It's always a pleasure tasting from barrel chez Ghislaine Barthod, but in these cellars, winemaking and élevage aren't rushed; and on my visits over the years, I have often been as conscious of the inadequacies of barrel tasting as of the greatness of the wines. Happily, when I proposed that, in the future, we look at finished, bottled wines—at room temperature above ground—Barthod's response was an enthusiastic yes. The 2019 vintage was certainly a great place to begin. As I wrote last year, harvest began at this address on September 9, with yields ranging between 25 and 32 hectoliters per hectare and alcohol levels between 13.2% and 13.8%. In bottle, the Barthod '19s are just as thrilling as they were from barrel, keeping company with the very best of the Côte de Nuits, and any readers with the opportunity to secure some (as well as the patience to wait a decade or so, as these are wines that evolve slowly, even in an inherently generous, charming vintage such as 2019) shouldn't hesitate." William Kelley, Wine Advocate Interim, Jan 2022 |