Winemaker Gilbert Hammel is a softspoken man making red Burgundies that are anything but. The town of Gevrey-Chambertin typically produces bold, masculine wine, and the Varoilles style channels this terroir perfectly.
Hammel’s “Clos du Meix des Ouches” is a village level cuvée that drinks more like a premier cru. It’s surrounded by an old wall, which blocks the wind and traps warmth, making its wines particularly round and ripe.
This is beautifully intense red Burgundy: the nose is ripe and spiced, showing dark cassis fruits, pansies, browned butter cookies and lavender. The palate is very intense and mouthfilling, with explosively rich cherry fruits bolstered by punchy and delightfully chewable tannins.
Jancis Robinson found it “velvety and sweet-fruited,” “generous and rounded.” Burghound awarded 90 points, calling it “exceptionally rich” and finding “plum, cassis, and black cherry.” This should develop beautifully over another 5-8 years, but it’s a treat today.
____________________________
Varoilles Gevrey-Chambertin
“Clos du Meix des Ouches” 2016
bottle price: $75
FREE EAST COAST SHIPPING ON ANY 12 BOTTLES