Chassagne-Montrachet Vieilles Vignes 2009, Jean-Charles Fagot

M. Fagot is a charming and popular character who is both a wine-maker and an inn-keeper. For anyone visiting the Côte de Beaune, M. Fagot’s Auberge du Vieux Vigneron in Corpeau, serving traditional Burgundian fare in a friendly ambience, is worth a visit and is just 10 minutes walk from Puligny. Strangely the walk back to Puligny after dinner takes at least 20 minutes... This red Chassagne from the ripe and dense 2009 vintage was worth the wait. The bouquet opens on a salvo of marinaded cherry, aniseed and cinnamon. Juste comme il faut. Plum, mature oak aromatics, a gentle plum schnapps note and a hint of roast tomato. On the palate this Chassagne 2009 is balanced and perfectly integrated. Medium-bodied with a dominant red cherry flavour and slightly chewy tannins on the finish which are a trademark of Chassagne. Couldn’t be better made. Scores 80/100.