This wine was the first in this line-up to be treated to second fill barrels. Great fruit and one does wonder what it would be like with a slightly tighter corset, however delicate the fruit. Rich and jewelly with great freshness too. Real tingle and thrill but relatively light. This positively dances on the palate it’s so bright-fruited. Lots of sweet, gentle fruit – certainly a charmer. Very pretty indeed without being a show-off. Long with the tingle factor. 18/20

The 2005 Charmes-Chambertin (from vines averaging around thirty years of age two thirds of them in Mazoyere-Chambertin) is decidedly lighter in color and palate weight than its premier cru predecessors. Sweet cherry with jam and caramel suggestions dominate a supple palate with nuances of toasted almond and licorice. This is all about polish sweet fruit and laid-back elegance but is frankly a bit disappointingly straightforward in consideration of its classification of the quality standard set by most of its stable mates and certainly given its price.