Maison Joseph Drouhin   Griotte Chambertin

2016 Griotte Chambertin

By Maison Joseph Drouhin

2016 Griotte Chambertin from Maison Joseph Drouhin, Burgundy, France

The 2016 vintage in Burgundy has spoken, and it has done so with a voice as intriguing as it is compelling. The 2016 Griotte Chambertin from Maison Joseph Drouhin, a producer whose roots delve deep into the heart of Burgundy's winemaking history, stands as a testament to the resilience and magic of this storied region.

 

A Narrative of Climate and Craft

As with all tales of exceptional wines, the narrative intertwines both viticulture artistry and climatic caprice. The year's early frost and cool spring incited concern among vintners; however, summer's warm embrace brought redemption, elegantly captured within each bottle of 2016 Griotte Chambertin.

The wine's complexity is hallmark, a narrative of terroir told through a mosaic of red and dark cherry notes entwined with an earthy underbrush character, a nod to the vintage's growth story. A gentle but assertive oak presence weaves through the olfactory tapestry, yielding to neither overwhelming nor receding into the background.

 

An Oenophilic Gem

On the palate, the clarification comes in layers: Silky tannins drape over an expertly balanced acidity that betrays a patience fostered by experienced hands. The length is impressive, offering whispers of spice box and lingering fruit long after the final sip. This steadfast performance marks the 2016 Griotte Chambertin from Maison Joseph Drouhin as a definitive chapter in Burgundian wine that investors would be prudent not to overlook.

It must be said that while every season has its stars, it is often from adversity that brilliance emerges. The perseverance shown by Drouhin’s vineyards through 2016's challenging conditions is embodied in this poised yet potent offering. It is undeniably clear that within each bottle lies not just wine, but a liquid chronicle waiting to mature magnificently within any astute investor's portfolio.

In summary, the 2016 Griotte Chambertin harmonises the fortitude of a particularly combative year with Maison Joseph Drouhin's unassailable commitment to finesse. Its position within both critics' cellars and investors' considerations should be penned with the same confidence this vintage speaks of its extraordinary origins.

Current market price

$6,120.00

12x75cl

Highest score

91

POP score

334.55

Scores and tasting notes

90-92

The 2016 Griotte-Chambertin Grand Cru was reduced to just four hectoliters this vintage. It includes 20% whole cluster fruit and will spend 16 months in oak. It felt a little muted at first but soon found its voice with pretty crushed violet-tinged blackberry and cassis fruit. I like the delineation here. The palate is well balanced if not as nuanced or refined as the Clos de Vougeot, more masculine than its peers with a saline finish that lingers. Good, but not the greatest this year.

Neal Martin - The Wine Advocate, 29 December 2017

Vintage performance