A joy to taste Amélie Berthaut’s 2018, particularly when the appellations Gevrey Chambretin and Fixin outperformed in 2018. I was particularly impressed with her Fixin 1er Cru les Arvelets and Chambolle Musigny 1er Cru Les Plantes, dark fruited with a fragrant core, refined. Berthaut’s 2018 are wines that can age for many years and should be cellared with patience, especially the Vosne Romanee wines.
Amélie started harvest on the 3rd of September for Pinot Noir and end of August for the white.
Tasting Notes
Gevrey Chambertin 2018
10% whole cluster. 30% new oak. From Combe du Dessus. Bright red fruits and rich blackberries. Vibrant acidity with good firmness and delicate minerals. A lovely village Gevrey Chambertin. (85/100)
Vosne Romanee 2018
From the south of Vosne Romanee. Around 38-40hl/ha in 2018. Strangely I find Berthaut’s Vosne Romanee wines too tannic in 2018. This 2018 Vosne Romanee offers a rich array of dark berries and cassis, dark earth and mild wood tannins. Lots of structure and baby fat that needs at least 10 years to resolve. Austere in youth. (84/100)
Fixin 1er Cru Les Arvelets 2018
20% stems. The 2018 Fixin Les Arvelets offers a more attractive nose compared to the Vosne Romanee. A rich and exuberant array of sweet scented dark berries, fine earthy minerals with juicy crunchy berries. A subtle lifted floral tone behind the structure. Ripe tannins with good acidity balance. Drink from 2025. (86+/100)
Chambolle Musigny 1er Cru Les Plantes 2018
The Chambolle Musigny Les Plantes is surprisingly delicate and attractive in 2018 when most Chambolle Musigny from other producers appeared tannic and heavy (some even too high in alcohol). Berthaut’s Chambolle Musigny offers a fragrant bouquet of rose petal, delicate raspberry and sweet dark fruits. Powerful yet attractive. (88/100)
Vosne Romanee 1er Cru Les Petits Monts 2018
Berthaut owns 5 small parcels in Petits Monts. 20% wholecluster. A sexy bouquet of Vosne Romanee rose petal and exotic spices. Sleek and dense dark berries with classic cool climate berries and minerals of Petits Monts. A big-boned Petits Monts with 13.5% alcohol. Very tight at this stage, Amelie said it should be racked by December. (89/100)
Clos Vougeot Grand Cru 2018
Amelie started making Clos Vougeot in 2014 after she inherited some vineyards from her mother. 50% stems in 2018. A charming bouquet of sweet mixed fruits and ripe stemmy nose. Playful and generous with firm structure. Good amount of fruits with fine-grained tannins. (89/100)
Fixin Blanc 2018
These Chardonnay vines comes from Les Champs des Charmes, a 0.5ha plot planted in 2007, however due to the bad clone (16149?) that gradually dies a few years after planting, only 40% of the vineyard is in production. Fermented in oak with no batonnage. 25% new oak. The Fixin Blanc is waxy with bright fruits of ripe citrus and slate crushed minerals. A well-made white Burgundy. (85/100)
