The two greatest vineyards of the Gevrey-Chambertin appellations is without doubt Le Chambertin and Chambertin Clos de Bèze … although I adore Ruchottes Chambertin for hedonistic reasons purely.
One could even argue that Le Chambertin and Chambertin Clos de Bèze in fact is one vineyard, and it is actually allowed to label a Clos de Bèze as Chambertin.
Photo: Erwan Faiveley – June 2016
The most renown wines from the Gevrey-Chambertin appellation are Le Chambertin and Chambertin Clos de Bèze from Rousseau – they are the benchmark wines in this appellation – and while they are different, I can’t say one is better than the other – and according to Jasper Morris the Eric Rousseau is more inclined to prefer Clos de Bèze, as was his father – the great Charles Rousseau – who thought that Clos de Bèze is more complex, classier, more delicate (J-F Bazin, Le Chambertin, p.95).
In my view the differences observed by them could well be true for the Rousseau plots, but in reality the differences in the terroir could well be as great within the two vineyards .. just saying perhaps are there no uniformly true differences between the two vineyards – but alsodifferences between the individual plots within the vineyards.
There are other great wines made from these terroirs – and among those are the Chambertin from Domaine Leroy, Domaine Dujac, Domaine Trapet, Domaine Ponsot and if you like the style Domaine Dugat-Py.
A new top wine from Chambertin Clos de Bèze has however emerged from Domaine Faiveley – the mighty Chambertin Clos de Bèze Les Ouvrées Rodin.
I tasted the 2015 vintage of this wine in June – and for me it ranks up there with the greatest wines produced from the Gevrey Chambertin appellation.
So lets take a closer look at Les Ouvrées Rodin …
Les Ouvrées Rodin – the plots
Domaine Faiveley is the fourth largest owner of Chambertin Clos de Bèze with 1.29 ha of this magnificent vineyard.
The Cuvée Les Ouvrées Rodin is made from the plot in the lower southern end of the Clos de Bèze vineyard – see map below.
Taking a closer look at the Faiveley holdings in Clos de Bèze – the map below show the four areas owned by Domaine Faiveley – Les Ouvrées Rodin is made from plot no 1 on the map below (cadastre no 63) – this plot is 0.3296 ha and located in the very core of the Clos de Bèze vineyard towards Les Chambertin.
The three other sections – Mur Zebetti (2), Béze Grand rangs Bas (3) and Béze Grand rangs Haut (4) produce the regular Faiveley Chambertin Clos de Béze.
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- A true vin d’émotion – a Burgundy of passion
- A truly hedonistic wine – lively and enjoyable
- A vivacious wine for pure indulgance
- A Vin Vif - fresh, energetic and with a light appearance