Lot presentation

Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru Clos Frantin - Albert Bichot 2016

The wine

The Clos Frantin domain owns a small 170-square metre plot of Charmes Chambertin, situated on a clay-limestone terroir with a rich layer of scree at its highest point. Due to a high concentration of iron oxide, the soil appears reddish. Facing east, the Pinot Noir vines, organically cultivated for the past ten years, are handpicked at the peak of ripeness. The vinification is performed in temperature-controlled, truncated-shaped wooden vats with natural yeasts for a duration of 20 to 28 days, followed by fourteen to sixteen months of ageing in 100% new barrels.
Once poured, this Charmes Chambertin reveals a bouquet of raspberry, redcurrant and violet, underlined by delicate toasted and animal notes. Powerful and elegant on the palate, it combines a silky body with ripe tannins. The palate combines power and elegance in a silky body, structured by well-matured tannins. A wine to be aged for six to eight years, and the perfect choice to complement a capon stuffed with foie gras.

About the Producer Clos Frantin - Albert Bichot

The Albert Bichot house is lucky enough to possess 1.75 hectares of this exceptional premier cru, located right next to a few mythic plots (Romanée-Conti is less than 400 metres away and Richebourg less than 600!). The vines, aged between 35 and 40 years, are east/south-east facing, on limestone soil. The Clos Frantin, owned by the Albert Bichot house, makes the following wines: in grands crus, Richebourg, Chambertin, Clos-de-Vougeot, Grands-Echézeaux and Echézeaux, in premier cru, Vosne-Romanée ""Les Malconsorts"" and in village appellations, Gevrey-Chambertin ""Les Murots"", Vosne-Romanée Les Maizières, Vosne-Romanée Les Damaudes and Nuits-Saint-Georges. The Clos Frantin covers 13 hectares, eight of which are premiers and grands crus. Fertilisers and weed killers have been replaced with compost and tilling. In order to produce a high quality fruit, the soil is carefully respected, the vines are pruned dramatically and thinning is carried out if necessary. The domain's wines are vinified in the historical building at the entrance to Nuits-Saint-George. In the vat-house, gravity-flow has replaced the mechanical operations in the winemaking process, which improves the quality and the grapes' aromatic potential. Today, the Albert Bichot house has 100 hectares of vines, at Chablis, Côte de Nuits, Côte de Beaune and Côte Chalonnaise, over four domains:-Château Long-Depaquit, Chablis (65ha)-Domaine du Clos Frantin, Nuits-Saint-Georges (13ha)-Domaine du Pavillon, Pommard (17ha)-Domaine Adélie, Mercurey (4.5ha)The Bichot family has been in Burgundy since 1350, but it was only in the 19th century that they became interested in vineyards and wine. Albéric Bichot, who is in charge since 1996, is the sixth generation.