Chambolle-Musigny Les Echezeaux Armelle et Bernard Rion 2000

Lot presentation

Chambolle-Musigny Les Echezeaux Armelle et Bernard Rion 2000

The wine

This Chambolle-Musigny is produced in the Les Echézeaux climate by Domain Armelle and Bernard Rion, which was founded at the end of the 19th century in Vosne-Romanée. Situated just south of the local church, this little parcel of 0.8ha is where they have been growing these vines for the past 50 years, with the Pinot Noir grapes being used in this wine. The vines are encouraged to draw the necessary nutrients for development from the marl, clay and limestone soil using environmentally sound, reasoned and sustainable growing methods that ban both insecticides and herbicides. The grapes are harvested by hand and are meticulously sorted before vinification which involves being fermented for 10 days in cement tanks, triggered naturally by indigenous yeasts. The entirely destemmed grapes are picked by hand before pressing. The wine is then matured for between a year and 15 months in 40% new wood barrels.
Perfect for long cellaring of up to 20 years, the wine is hailed for its aromatic complexity, with notes of red fruit and violets alongside humus, mushrooms and leather. When young the wine will pair perfectly with raw fish or white meat dishes; after ageing, the palate will develop finesse and grandeur, and be a great accompaniment to mature cheeses or meats in sauce.

In 1880 Pierre Rion, former sharecropper at the Château de la Berchère at Nuits-Saint-Georges, purchased vines from Vosne-Romanée and founded the Domaine Rion. His son Louis took over and significantly expanded the domain. In 1952 the domain was divided up between his two sons. His eldest son, Marcel Rion, extended his domain and remained at Vosne-Romanée. Bernard Rion has worked with his father since 1973 and directs the domain with his wife Armelle.