The king of Burgundy has certainly performed up to its exalted reputation in the Rossignol-Trapet cellars in 2012 and this is the most brilliant wine I have ever had the pleasure to taste from the Rossignol brothers! The utterly classic and bottomless nose soars from the glass in a mélange of red and black plums, red and black cherries, a touch of the grilled meat to come, cocoa, a stunningly complex base of soil, woodsmoke and vanillin oak. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied and brilliantly pure on the attack, with a sappy core, great focus and balance, substantial, but utterly seamless tannins and stunning length and grip on the pure, elegant and soil-driven finish. Pure brilliance! (Drink between 2025-2075)

A deft touch of wood sets off cool and very pure aromas of dark berries, earth, lavender, spice and plenty of sauvage character. There is stunningly good complexity to the strikingly intense, delineated and powerful big-bodied flavors that possess fine midpalate concentration before terminating in a driving and explosively long finish. This is old school Chambertin but it’s not so austere as to be difficult to approach even though it will require at least 15 years to arrive at its full peak. At the moment this is the qualitative equal of the Chapelle though I suspect that if both were held to full maturity this could very well surpass its stable mate; time will of course be the ultimate arbiter but suffice it to say that both are cellar-worthy choices. 2027+

Tasted blind at the annual "Burgfest" tasting in Beaune. The 2012 Chambertin Grand Cru from Domaine Rossignol-Trapet has a very complex, slightly broody bouquet with hints of cedar infusing dark berry fruit, woodland aromas developing in what is a mercurial nose. The palate is medium-bodied with precise, slightly tart red fruit, fine acidity and a composed finish that just tapers in a little. This is understated for Chambertin, but there is clearly top-notch winemaking here. Give it two or three years just to find its feet. - Neal Martin