Gevrey Chambertin

Gevrey-Chambertin represents Pinot Noir at its most muscular and age-worthy. This is Burgundy's largest wine commune, with nine Grand Crus forming an unbroken chain along the upper slopes: Chambertin and Chambertin-Clos de Bèze (the finest), Latricières, Mazoyères, Charmes, Griotte, Chapelle, Mazis, and Ruchottes. The village's character comes from its position and soils. Situated where the Côte opens into a wide combe, Gevrey receives more sunlight but also more exposure to cooling winds. The limestone bedrock lies deeper here, covered by iron-rich clay that gives the wines their distinctive power and structure. Napoleon famously favored Chambertin, and the wine's reputation for grandeur persists. These are not delicate Burgundies—young Gevrey can be austere, even forbidding. But with time (often a decade or more for Grand Cru), they unfold into complex expressions of black cherry, licorice, earth, and spice. The 26 Premier Crus offer tremendous value, with Clos Saint-Jacques considered by many equal to Grand Cru quality. Village-level Gevrey provides an accessible introduction to the commune's style.