Frederic Esmonin Ruchottes-Chambertin Grand Cru (3 Liter) 2016
Region: Gevrey-Chambertin, Cote de Nuits, Cote d'Or, Burgundy, France
Variety: Red Wine
Rating: 96.0

Ruchottes is a very small Grand Cru, divided into three lieu-dits: Ruchottes du Dessus, Clos des Ruchottes and Ruchottes du Bas, which sits directly above Mazy-Chambertin Haut. The top sections of the Ruchottes are quite steep, with very shallow, and very poor topsoil due to erosion, whereas the lower sections are not quite as infertile. The wines from Ruchottes tend to be characterized as being more structured than other grand crus, but in reality they are finely fruited and more detailed, causing them to appear to be more structured than wines with a heavier fruit profile. The 60 year old vines work their way through the fractured Premeaux and Oolite limestone which lies just beneath the surface. Some Pinot Beurrot in this parcel gives the wine an added measure ofgras, notes Frédéric Esmonin” (Tanzer 2/2016).