Nicolas Potel Charmes Chambertin Grand Cru 2008
- Vintage
- 2008
- Country
- France
- Region
- Burgundy,Cote de Nuits
- Size
- 750ml
- Rating
- WA88~89
- Grape
- Pinot Noir
Candied cherry, purple plum preserves, and a maple syrup-like meld of resin and caramel scent the Maison Potel 2008 Charmes-Chambertin. The initial palate impression here is impressive, harmoniously combining admirable fresh fruit juiciness with the wine’s confected and torrified elements. The finish introduces a bit of awkwardly drying tannin. When I discovered that this represents an amazingly large lot of 20 barrels (all “true” Charmes) and five different growers I couldn’t restrain the thought that perhaps just a few of those barriques – or perhaps only one? – ought to have been culled. But we’ll see how this has gotten into and evolves in barrel. I’ve little doubt it will retain freshness for at least a decade. Drink: 2010~2020 - WA88~89
Maison Nicolas Potel is a Burgundy négociant business founded in 1997. While the house owns no vineyards, Potel makes Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines from some of the most highly regarded sites in the Côte de Nuits and the Côte de Beaune. Potel has access to multiple grand cru and premier cru vineyards, notably producing Corton, Charmes-Chambertin and Echézeaux Grand Cru wines, among others. Wines are also produced at the village level from regions all over Burgundy, including Chablis and the Maconnais, as well as Beaujolais to the south.
Potel's father was manager of Domaine Pousse d'Or until his death in 1996. The resulting sale of Pousse d'Or led Nicolas to start his own winery using his relationships with Burgundy growers to secure high-quality fruit. In 2005, he sold the winery to the Cottin brothers who owned the Burgundy label Labouré-Roi. Potel remained involved until 2009, when he bought his own vineyards, although his name remains. He now owns the labels Domaine Roche de Bellene in Beaune and Domaine Potel Aviron in Beaujolais. - Information from Wine Searcher