2022 Château de Chamirey Mercurey Rouge Premier Cru Clos du Roi, Burgundy

There is just enough reduction to shave the top notes from the aromas of various red berries and spice, especially anise. There is similar volume to the medium weight flavors though the mid-palate texture is finer, which contrasts noticeably with the moderately rustic finish where a similar hint of bitter pit fruit emerges.

87-89 points Allen Meadows burghound.com

Château de Chamirey Mercurey Rouge Premier Cru Clos du Roi is one of the crown jewels of the Côte Chalonnaise, delivering the structure, elegance, and finesse you’d expect from a great Burgundy Premier Cru—without the Côte d'Or price tag. This vineyard, Clos du Roi, is one of the most esteemed Premier Cru sites in Mercurey, and Château de Chamirey has long been its flagship ambassador.

Owned by the Devillard family, who have been making wine in Burgundy since the 17th century, Château de Chamirey has become a benchmark producer in Mercurey. Their holdings in Clos du Roi are perfectly situated on a gentle east-facing slope with clay-limestone soils that are ideal for Pinot Noir. Low yields and meticulous vineyard management allow the terroir to shine through.

The wine is made with around 20 to 30% whole bunch fermentation depending on the vintage, and then aged in French oak barrels, about one-third new, for around 14 months. The result is a Mercurey of serious pedigree. Expect lifted aromas of wild strawberries, cherries, violet and spice. The palate is medium-bodied and silky, showing fine tannins and a fresh mineral backbone that carries flavours of ripe red fruits, dried herbs and a touch of earthy sous-bois. There’s great length and a savoury flourish on the finish.

This Premier Cru is often praised by critics for punching well above its weight in terms of quality. It can be enjoyed young for its vibrant fruit, or cellared for 8–10 years to allow its earthy complexity to evolve.

A brilliant pairing with roast duck, mushroom risotto or a creamy wild mushroom tart.