Visit: Chantereves … purist negociant extraordinaire

I have my regular stops in Burgundy – Domaines I visit almost every year, but I always try to find time to visit new and upcoming producers .. as this often is a great inspiration for me as a blogger. It also gives me the opportunity to explore wines that often are more accessible for Burgundy lovers with a more limited budget like myself.

Photo: Tomoko Kuriyama

On my March trip to Burgundy I had the pleasure to visit Chantereves in Savigny-Les-Beaune. Until recently a totally unknown producer to me … sorry for my ignorance … producing both lovely reds and delightful whites.

Chanterives, Chantereves, Rhingau and Japan

Chantereves is a small negociant located in a celler below a modern villa in Savigny-Les-Beaune.

The estate is founded by two talented winemakers … Tomoko Kuriyama and Guillaume Bott, who as wife and husband have joined forces in producing a small selection of wines from grapes bought from different vineyard owners around Burgundy. First vintage was 2010.

Tomoko originates from Japan but has taken her wine education at the famous wine university in Geisenheim Germany. After finishing her education she worked as estate manager at the well known Rheingau estate, Friedrich Altenkirch.

Guillame Bott is currently working as winemaker at Domaine Simon Bize also in Savigny-Les-Beaune, and he has previously worked at Etienne Sauzet.

So in total a lot of experience and competences at Chantereves, and in my view both the German and French winemaking tradition is somehow recognizable in the Chantereves wines.

The Chantereves estate was founded in 2010 as Chanterives, but this name was somehow conflicting with the name of a wine producer in another region (one that I rarely if ever mention) and the name was therefore changed to Chantereves.

The Chantereves wines

It’s always difficult to descripe the style of a wine producer in a few words … but as always I will give it a try .. seen from my perspective and palate.

In my view the Chantereves wines have a certain German quality … a unmanipulated purity often found in the wines from the Mosel valley.

The wines are extremely pure, with a almost naked impression of the fruit. They are focused, transparent and crystal clear palate wise. They seem completely free from vinification makeup and other “effects” aimed to please the market for “easy drinking” oaked grapejuice.

I have only tasted reds from 2013 .. a difficult year, but Chantereves seems to have done very well in 2013 .. where strict selection was essential to avoid unripe tannins.

The red 2013s are relatively dark expression wise, with a cool and airy style. They offer a very fine expression of the terroir … as they are transparent and unmasked. I can’t really say how much of the style is determined by the vintage .. but I will try to taste some other vintages of the Chatereves reds soon .. as the style appeals to my inner German.

The whites are equally transparent and pure, and here I have tasted both the 2011 Meursault Crotots and the 2013s mentioned below. 

There are two qualities I like to mention about the whites .. one is refinement … these wines are really delicate and refined in the expression of the fruit. The second quality is purity .. and I’m pretty sure that the delicacy is a result of the crystal clear purity in these wines.

I love the energy in the white 2013s and Chantereves has done very well with the two whites I tasted … especially the Meursault Les Crotots .. but admittedly I have a soft spot for this terroir (located just below Poruzots). These wines are delicate … and not “showing off” in any way … make no mistake they offer delightful drinking and a quite unusual pure and untainted version of white Burgundies.

Notes from the tasting in Savigny-Les-Beaune

I tasted 5 wines at Chantereves, two white and three reds … see the lineup on the photo below. The wines were bottled in late 2014 or early 2015.

Chantereves, Saint Romain 2013
The Saint-Romain is showing beautifully. In the nose detailed white fruit .. with some lovely delicate exotic elements backed by a nice minerality – quite refined for this level. On the palate crisp and acidity driven with a nice core of super pure fruit. Focused and quite linear .. with a lovely nerve and energy from the vibrant 2013 acidity. Refined rather than expressive … lovely juice.

(Drink From 2016) – Good – (86 – 87p) – Tasted 19/03/2015.

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Chantereves, Meursault Les Crotots 2013
The Meursault Les Crotots village is quite a big step up in quality … offering a beautiful display of Meursault terroir. In the nose fine citrus infused minerality, a selection of delicate white orchard fruits. On the palate pure and cool fruit .. very pure, delicate and refined for the vintage .. and powered by the the energetic 2013 acidity. Really adore the level of refinement in this wine .. rarely found in a village Meursault. 

(Drink From 2016) – Very Good – (90 – 91p) – Tasted 19/03/2015

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Chantereves, Bourgogne Rouge 2013
The Bourgogne Rouge 2013 is a quite puristic effort. In the bouquet very pure red and dark berry fruit – cool and transparent with a hint of stony minerality. On the palate fine and delicate fruit .. lightfooted and very pure. Refreshing to taste a Bourgogne Rouge not trying to fight for village weight and glory with excessive oak and extraction. A lightfooted and quite delicate effort.

(Drink from 2016) – Above Average (84 – 85p) – Tasted 19/03/2015

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Chantereves, Volnay 2013
The Volnay 2013 is offering a classic view to the virtues of this appellation. The nose is showing pure and delicate fruit .. notes of dark and red cherries .. brought forward by a rather discrete and quite filigree minerality. On the palate pure and crystal clear fruit – focused and with a lovely nerve and energy from the fresh acidity. Lightfooted but with a nice intensity. Love the purity .. very impressive considering the difficult conditions in 2013.

(Drink from 2022) – Very Good (88 – 89p) – Tasted 19/03/2015

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Chantereves, Pommard 2013
The Pommard 2013 is very true to it’s origin offering more weight and power. It’s made from the two climates Rue au Port and Trois Follots. In the nose cool and transparent red and dark fruit supported by a quite deep earthy minerality. On the palate more weight and power … offering cool detailed fruit, fine length and balance. Classic Pommard with a lovely energy and transparency … 

(Drink from 2022) – Very Good (88 – 89p) – Tasted 19/03/2015