Griotte-Chambertin Grand Cru

Griotte-Chambertin is the smallest of the Grands Crus of Gevrey-Chambertin: a single lieu-dit, En Griotte, with about 2.7 hectares of Pinot Noir. It lies at the foot of the slope, in a small hollow that bites into the edge of the limestone shelf, between Chapelle-Chambertin to the north and Charmes-Chambertin to the south; only the Route des Grands Crus separates it from the Clos de Bèze, higher up.

The name brings to mind sour cherries, griottes in French, but the appellation rules trace it to a Burgundian term, cras or criot, denoting places with very stony soil: here the slope is relatively steep and stones abound. Beneath the mantle of debris, sometimes coarse, mixed with clays and red silts, lies the hard Bajocian limestone. The climat's reputation dates back to the eighteenth century; in 1855 Jules Lavalle classified the “Grillotte” as first cuvée, and in 1931 a ruling of the Dijon court set its boundaries, adding the name Chambertin to its own. The appellation dates from July 31, 1937.

The appellation rules describe a red with dense yet elegant tannins, velvety and held in balance by a pedigree freshness, with aromas of red fruits, spices, violet, and forest floor: a long-lived wine that shows its best after a few years in bottle. When available, the bottles appear further down.