This year's Decanter World Wine Awards Regional Trophy for Red Burgundy over £15 went to Albert Bichot, Lavaux Saint-Jacques, Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru 2010 (13%)
Tasted against:
- Jaffelin, Vieilles Vignes, Gevrey-Chambertin 2011
- Jean-Claude Boisset, Les Charmes, Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru 2012
Profile:
Gevrey-chambertin is the most northerly of the great Côte de Nuits appellations, with a diverse number of premiers and grands crus. These are owned by an equally diverse number of producers, allowing for seemingly infinite vinous possibilities. Lavaux-St-Jacques is a case in point: a south-facing vineyard at just over 9.5 hectares, it is the largest premier cru, boasting more than 30 owners.
Lavaux gained its appellation status in 1936, although Albert Bichot has been producing a wine from here for just the past seven vintages. Soil here is shallow and light, with brown limestone on the upper section (the vineyard steadily rises to just over 325m), and brown calcite on the lower slopes. Clay is abundant over thick limestone beds dating to the late-Paleozoic period. Yields have been severely restricted to as few as six bunches per vine.
Technical director Alain Serveau oversees the making of this Trophy winner at Clos Frantin in Nuits-St- Georges (one of Bichot’s four production facilities) where it is matured in oak barrels, 40% new. Made in a ‘classical’ style typical of the low-yielding 2010 vintage, it has a vivid fruit core enabling it to be drunk now or kept for up to seven years.
Written by Decanter
