We found this 2009 Domaine Sylvain Cathiard & Fils Chambolle-Musigny Les Clos De l’Orme again at the the Caveau de Chassagne Montrachet, on another tasting trip in late October 2011. The village level vineyard is often thought of as showing like a premier cru, this piqued our curiosity and led us to believe that it would be a good buy for the appellation.
Musigny, Looking toward Clos de Vougeot
This commune has a soft spot in our heart due to a personal preference for the elegant, feminine style typical of Chambolle-Musigny as well as many very nice visits to Domaines in the area. Les Clos De l’Orme is a smaller clos that is tucked in next to premier cru vineyards Les Plantes and Les Charmes, both further up the slope. Domaine Sylvain Cathiard has a reputation for meticulous vine upkeep and production technique. Sylvain’s grandfather started out at Domaine de la Romanée Conti and Lamarche and eventually started buying vineyards of his own, which are still a part of the domain’s holding, which also includes several parcels in Vosne Romanée and Nuits St. Georges. We look forward to trying more of these finely crafted wines from Domaine Sylvain Cathiard.
Terroir, production notes and pairing ideas for Chambolle-Musigny Les Clos De l’Orme
Here are some notes on the terroir, history of the area and producer, along with some personal thoughts on characteristics of the wine. We invite you to share your experiences as well!
Vineyard / soil / terroir
These vines struggle through several meters of chalky limestone rocks to reach nourishment. East to southeast facing slopes.
Production / Barrel ageing
Grapes are table sorted and destalked. Post fermentation, stored in 50% new oak barrels.
Tasting note
Initial nose and color make me think California more so than Burgundy. Muted nose with a touch of wood spice. The midpalate reveals a rich texture with extracted red fruits and a hint of alcohol. Strawberries, bright cherries and dried cranberries. I keep coming back to dried red fruits. After some air, it has a complete Burgundy nose and shows appealing complexity. A fine finish, which is appropriate for a wine of this wonderful level.
Food pairing ideas
We enjoyed this wine with an escargot appetizer and roasted duck. Our dinner turned out to be a memory we will have for a long time, due to the fact that we got our 6-year-old girl to try a snail. Try Ina Garten’s roast duck recipe. We’ve had good luck with fresh ducks using this recipe, but next time we will confit the legs. Chambolle-Musigny also pairs well with roasted lamb and red meat dishes and mild, soft cheeses. If you ever have the good fortune to visit Beaune, France, try asking the staff at Alain Hess Fromagerie for Chambolle-Musigny pairings. A few places to visit that may be closer to your home are Venissimo Cheese in San Diego, The Cheese Board Collective in Berkeley or Metrovino in Portland.
Want to talk wine?
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To Friendship!