One of the most interesting spots to view vineyards in Burgundy is just in the borderline between Morey-Saint-Denis and Gevrey-Chambertin. Looking North towards Gevrey-Chambertin, there lies a majestic sea of vines with Chambertin in the center, surrounded by its other Grand Crus like a king and his courtiers. 

Charmes-Chambertin lies directly below Le Chambertin with which it shares the same kind of small pebbles and brownish earth. 

Charmes-Chambertin is of course entirely planted in Pinot Noir Fin, pruned very short according to the traditional "taille Guyot". No fertilizers or weed killers are used. 

The grapes are always hand-picked and carefully brought to the Drouhin cellars in small crates. Joseph Drouhin's winemaking technique remains strictly traditional. Fermentation and maceration occur in wooden open vats with punching down of the cap and pumping over of the juice. 

The wine is then put in oak barrels where it loses its acidity through the malolactic fermentation. It is left to age for about 18 months and is fined with egg-whites prior to bottling. 

Charmes-Chambertin has a bright, ruby colour and a seductive nose where cherry and pit flavours dominate. After a few minutes of aeration, a more woody, even spicy, aroma comes out and seems to play a game of  "hide and seek" with the fruit. 

The flavours are all extraordinary in their richness : neither rough nor heavy, the architecture of the wine is a marvel of harmony, with very fine and noble tannins bringing a silky roundness to the wine. This is what people in Burgundy call the "gras". A more energetic note is added by the acidity. The impressions left on the palate are yet another chapter to this story : candied cherry, exotic barks, refined spices ; according to some experts, this is where the real tasting begins ... and it goes on and on. 

This is a grand wine which deserves the best accompaniment : prime meat, morels, truffles, wild hare, aged cheeses. Charmes-Chambertin is a rare and generous wine for the greatest occasions.