Life is too short to drink bad wine

OUR VINEYARD The estate currently farms 6 ha. Focused on Nuits Saint Georges and Chambolle-Musigny appellations, we only produce red wines from the Pinot Noir grape variety, although 1.30 ha in Nuits produce a white wine from chardonnay (90%) and pinot blanc (10%). p> Our approach to viticulture is rigorous. The vines are pruned short and bud selection is very strict. Leaf-canopy surface is optimized for greater photosynthetic activity, yields are limited, and disease and pest control is carefully managed. All this allows us to farm naturally, even if we are not certified organic. With our soils, we do not use weedkillers, preferring the plow (and sometimes the hoe!) to control weeds. But as excessive plowing can be bad for the soil and the vine, during the winter we sow a natural grass which helps to avoid erosion, and encourages soil fauna. We are very careful to avoid soil compaction problems, so we use very lightweight tractors for spraying and hedging. In additio...

Patrice Rion is one of the masters of Chambolle and he has three different premier crus as far as I know. This one called Les Cras, Les Fuees and the famous Les Charmes. All of them are equally good and elegant although my personal favourite is Les Charmes. Optimum timing for drinking them are at least 5-7 years old to smoothen the tannins that are present in the younger years. This one from 2012 has lots of red fruit dominated by wild raspberries and cherries. Delicate taste with a lovely balance and soft tannins. A lovely wine that will improve even further with a couple of more years in the bottle. Chambolle Musigny 2012 "Les Cras" Patrice Rion  Ca 50€

This one of my absolute favourites; Patrice Rion, Chambolle and premier cru Les Charmes. Delicious heavenly smell of raspberries, cherries, chocolate and some pepper. Very firm structured taste with a gorgeous balance and wonderful red fruit. It's a big solid and smooth wine with lovely firm tannins. Drink now, but will improve if you can wait for 5 years... Chambolle Musigny 1er cru Les Charmes Patrice Rion Ca 50€

This is wine number 1000 on this blog and the choice of wine number 1000 is not accidental. Chambolle Musigny by Rion is a pure meditation wine with a silky texture and balance that must be experienced in order to understand what the fuzz is all about. I have tried all the Chambolle Musigny's by Patrice Rion since the 2006 and every vintage has been of great quality. The purity, balance, smoothness and delightful taste is just amazing. The wine is so delicate that it is difficult to recommend any food with it and that's why it's for me a pure meditation wine. Serve slightly chilled in a big glass, lean back in the chair or sofa and just enjoy; sip after sip.... Stunning stuff for 39€. Wine does not get better than this, just more expensive.....

This premier cru plot called les Charmes by Patrice Rion is a wonderful red Burgundy. It's silky, smooth and wonderfully balanced. The tannins are soft and elegant. The taste is big, fruity, delightful and ever so complex. The aromas are filled with fresh red fruit, a bit of chocolate and some smoke. The wine can keep for 5-10 more years but it's drinking beautifully now. High price ca 600kr or 45€.

It's a bit early drinking the 2011 Charmes right now because the 2004 which I still have some left of is drinking perfectly right now. Very similar smell to the Chambolle Musigny village wine from the same year but more complex nose with sweet red fruit and chocolate. Shockingly nice and complex taste with firm but soft tannins. A great wine that can easily be stored 5 more years and be even better then. The only problem with wines from Patrice Rion is that bottles seems to empty way too quickly... Chambole Musigny 1er cru Les Charmes 2011 Patrice Rion Ca 40€  

Crisis what Crisis! This is the last bottle of the 2011 Chambolle by Patrice Rion. Having bought a case of all his vintages since 2006 it is hard to believe how fast a case disappears and the consistent quality of these wines. Lovely sweet red fruit on the nose with some smoke, chocolate and earthy flavours. Very decadent and elegant as always. A superb delicate taste with an elegant long soft stunning balanced aftertaste. Wine does not get very much better than this just more expensive! Pls Patrice just send send some more cases...!! Chambolle Musigny 2011 Patrice Rion Ca 30€

A bit of flyfcuking in Burgundy the other day. All Pinot Noir of course and all produced by one of my favourite producers, Patrice Rion. We started off with the basic Chambolle Musigny 2009 which we would probably regret, but as the others were expected to have more body and substance we felt it was the right thing to do. Chambolle Musigny 2009   was just a delightful experience with a super elegant nose filled with red berries, smoke and some pepper. The taste was just pure velvet with a wonderful length and balance. Just a superb basic Chambolle that is drinking beautifully right now. A bit of cherries on the taste as well. Nuits St George 1er cru Clos des Argillieres 2007 , a totally different ball game with more ripe fruit, more meaty flavours on the nose, also much more dark fruit than the previous one.A bit like ripe dark cherries as well. More body than the Chambolle and less acidity, but a big Burgundy although with less finesse and elegancy than the Chambolle. N...

The best red Burgundy was however my old favourite , Chambolle Muisgny. A premier cru by Domaine Taupenot-Merme. Very attractive nose of red fruit, vanilla and cherries. A just amazing balance with an aftertaste that goes on and on. A shame really to drink such wines a in small tasting glass as such wines truly need a big Burgundy glass to attract all the flavors. Chambolle-Musigny 1er cru " La Combe d'Orveau" Domaine Taupenot-Merme Ca 70-80€

Standard Chambolle Musigny from 2010 by Ghislaine Barthod. 2010 is a great vintage and Barthod makes Burgundy of sublime character. Perhaps not as silky as for example Rion but with a more distinct acidity and complex taste. A wine for the great occasions (like lunch at 4 Roser in Harstad)… Chambolle Musigny 2010 Ghislaine Barthod Ca 35€

This one belongs to the more demanding type of Burgundy reds, firm with an apparent acidity that balances perfectly in your mouth. Medium purple colour and with a nose more towards dark fruit then  raspberries or strawberries. A pleasant mouthful that needs time to smoothen. Firm but soft tannins and a nicely tuned acidity. A demanding Burgundy that requires more time (give it another 5 years). A very good wine but not memorable. Chambolle-Musigny 2010 "Les Fremieres" Digioia-Royer High price

One of my absolute favourite reds!   This is the last bottle of the 2006 vintage but luckily there are other vintages in the wine cellar.   Medium red colour with super delicious nose of red fruit and some vanilla and chocolate. The taste is as always very elegant and stunningly smooth and velvety.    Wine does not get much better than this just more expensive.   And if you are lost in the Burgundy jungle of wine , you can not go very wrong by choosing wines from Patrice Rion.   Chambolle Musigny 2006 Patrice Rion Ca 25€  

Bonnes Mares is a grand cru in Chambolle Musigny with roughly 10% in Morey-Saint-Denis. There used to be more on the St Denis side but as that area was within Clos de Tart it eventually became a part of Clos de Tart in 1965. It is uncertain where the name Bonnes Mares derives from but a possibility is "bonnes meres", the good mothers (nuns) of Notre Dame de Tart. The Bonnes Mares (15 ha) is slightly different from the rest of Chambolle and there are at least 30 different principal producers of this wine. Roumier holds 1,6 ha, split between the reddish and white soil, which he blends together into a rich and robust wine. The 2006 has a lovely elegant nose perhaps less fragrant than a Chambolle. The taste is wonderful complex, rich, elegant, balanced with a perfect touch of acidity. A stunning but expensive wine! Bonnes Mares Grand cru 2006  Chambolle Musigny Domaine Roumier

What can I say? Premier cru from Chambolle is very difficult to resist due to their fantastic balance and elegancy. So this one as well. 8 years old is the perfect timing for these wines as they do not get better after this point in time. This one is peaking right now with gorgeous red berries and a silky fruity and perfect balance. I am uncertain what more one can want from a wine.... Chambolle Musigny 2004 "Les Charmes" Try with pork or veal Ca 40€ or 65€ in Norway

When did you last make a mistake between Bordeaux and Burgundy? Well not at lunch but during this blind tasting yes! The wine had wonderful Bordeaux flavors without pencil case and lots of nice tannins. So it turned out to be a Premier Cu Chambolle Musigny which I have in my own cellar, so what? Shit happens. Chambolle Musigny 1er cru "Les Charmes" 2004 Ca 600 NOK or 40€, Score ça 18.00

This is one of my favourite wines. The village Chambolle Musigny by Patrice Rion is always good and the 2009 vintage is better than ever. Slightly darker red color than normal, medium dark red with purple rim. Lovely smell of sweet cherries and chocolate creates an urge to zip the wine and the taste will not disappoint you. Great seductive velvety taste with a firm but soft acidity. Thank God it's Friday! Chambolle Musigny 2009 by Patrice Rion, €27 Very drinkable now but will develop further if you have the patience....

Just realised I have never blogged about this wine which is one of my favourite red wines! Patrice Rion's basic Chambolle Musigny is a perfect example of what Chambolle can deliver. Medium dark red color with purple rim. Wonderful smell of raspberries, chocolate and sweet apples. The taste is equally balanced with perfect tannins and a long velvet finish full of the same raspberries and chocolate. Chambolle Musigny 2009, Patrice Rion Truly heavenly stuff, 27€

Les Fuees is another Chambolle- Musigny Premier cru made by Patrice Rion. Made from relatively young vines 20-25 years. Lovely red fruit on the nose and a wonderful silky smooth and elegant taste. Hints of cherries on the nose and more body and texture than the village Chambolle although not as big as the "Charmes". An elegant wine. Chambolle-Musigny "Les Fuees" 2007, P Rion Another great example of Chambolle can provide...

Wine #2 Blindtasting Sirdalen Nov 2011 Light red colour, near Beaujolais like. Light red raspberries and flowers. Feminine style. Disappointing light simple taste. Nothing special. Apparantly Chambolle Musigny of top quality but more like a Beaujolais in taste. Must be something wrong with the bottle as a similar wine had been tasted jst recently and was superb. Chambolle Musigny "Les Cras"2006, Ghislaine Barthod, Ca 500 Nok or 40€ Score 16.25

Zipping Chambolle in an old cosy house the day before the cup-final turned out to be the highlight of a disappointing footballing weekend. Quite a "pale" red colour with lovely smell of raspberries and redcurrant. The taste very seductive, elegant fruit and a light stunningly balanced finished. Absolutely faboulous! Chambolle Musigny 2006, Barthod, high price 420 or ca 30€, what's price got to do with it?