Domaine des Chezeau, Griotte-Chambertin 1999 I had a puzzling Burgundy the other night from Domaine des Chezeaux. The family vineyards date back to the late 1920s, and several family members with splintered holdings combined them in 1982 under the umbrella label 'Domaine des Chezeaux.'
Their Griotte-Chambertin holding is farmed by several growers, and sometimes the grower is indicated on the label. In this case, Ponsot made the wine (you can see this in the lower right hand corner, third line up from the bottom).
This arrangement highlights the complexities of Burgundian land-ownership. In this case a majority percentage of a Grand Cru vineyard is owned by several family members who create a company under which to market their wine. They hire local winemakers who grow the fruit and take some of it as payment. The fruit is then made into different wines- wines under the grower's label and wines under the land owner's label. The different growers producing the owner's wine may or may not be distinguished on the label. So, if it weren't for that tiny word "Ponsot" on the bottom of the label (which is only on some vintages), you might be buying a completely different wine. And if you buy Ponsot's Griotte, you are buying the same wine as Chezeaux bottled by Domaine Ponsot.
Domaine des Chezeaux "Griotte-Chambertin" 1999 (Burgundy, France)
Aromas: funky, earthy, curry, spice, dark fruits, meaty intensity. Tertiary aromas emerging, underbrush and dried leaves, & the first hints of oxidation. On the palate, rich and full texture, with intense and balanced acidity. Loved the balance- had this with venison and it was a nice combination.
Their Griotte-Chambertin holding is farmed by several growers, and sometimes the grower is indicated on the label. In this case, Ponsot made the wine (you can see this in the lower right hand corner, third line up from the bottom).
This arrangement highlights the complexities of Burgundian land-ownership. In this case a majority percentage of a Grand Cru vineyard is owned by several family members who create a company under which to market their wine. They hire local winemakers who grow the fruit and take some of it as payment. The fruit is then made into different wines- wines under the grower's label and wines under the land owner's label. The different growers producing the owner's wine may or may not be distinguished on the label. So, if it weren't for that tiny word "Ponsot" on the bottom of the label (which is only on some vintages), you might be buying a completely different wine. And if you buy Ponsot's Griotte, you are buying the same wine as Chezeaux bottled by Domaine Ponsot.
Domaine des Chezeaux "Griotte-Chambertin" 1999 (Burgundy, France)
Aromas: funky, earthy, curry, spice, dark fruits, meaty intensity. Tertiary aromas emerging, underbrush and dried leaves, & the first hints of oxidation. On the palate, rich and full texture, with intense and balanced acidity. Loved the balance- had this with venison and it was a nice combination.
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