Description
Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Les Combottes is from 3 separate parcels totaling .61 ha with two right next to Grand Cru Latricières-Chambertin and the other at the southern end of the vineyard near Grand Cru Clos de la Roche. Les Combottes gets it’s name from the combe formation of the land it grows on (a valley or hollow on the side of a hill). A cold north wind that blows here ensures a later harvest in this chilly area.
History of the Vineyard
“Combottes” comes from small “combe” which is a narrow gorge. Around 1930, they should have been able to label it Grand Cru “Combottes-Chambertin”, however a judgment passed in 1931 did not allocate the name “Chambertin” to the name of this parcel.
Terroir
The vineyards face east-southeast at an altitude of 260m (850 feet), on soils of limestone with marl, gravel and red-silt. This parcel always gives a ripeness to the grapes. Les Combottes are situated just on the border between Morey-Saint-Denis and Gevrey-Chambertin, between the Grands Crus of Latricières-Chambertin, Mazoyères-Chambertin and Clos de la Roche.
Viticulture, vinification, barrel aging
From the vineyard to the winery, each operation is adapted to the vintage to make the best wines possible and to fully express the parcels’ terroir. 33% of new oak barrels are used for the aging process.
Tasting
Color: ruby to garnet.
Nose: aromas of red berries.
Exceptional length. This is a full bodied wine with supple tannins.
This wine pairs wonderfully with meat grilled or served in a sauce, and with aged cheeses. It is best served between 14° to 16°C. The best vintages are ideally aged from 5 to 7 years to fully appreciate the wine.
Vineyard
- Location: In the middle of the Grands Crus
- Surface area: 61,85 ares (1.53 acre)
- Age of vines: 15 to 70 years
- Currents yields: 48 HL/Ha
Wine
- Production: 2 800 bottles
- Color: Ruby to garnet
- Characteristics
Nose: red berries
Palate: corpulent, strutured - Aging potential: 5 to 10 year
About Domaine Pierre Amiot et Fils
The Amiots have been making wine in the Cote de Nuits for 5 generations. They make stunning Morey-Saint-Denis Reds including Grand Cru Clos de la Roche, Premier Cru Les Millandes and Morey-Saint-Denis Village. In Gevrey-Chambertin they make an excellent Premier Cru Les Combottes. They practice low yields in the vineyard (25-35 hectoliters per hectare), lute raisonnée (eliminating, when possible, the use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides), de-stemming and a 20 day maceration of the berries. The wine is kept on its lees until the one racking just before bottling. The wines are not fined or filtered. All of this extreme care of the land and berries along with little to no disturbance of the wine in barrel leads to extremely smooth wines. The wines and family are very well regarded in Burgundy, but since they do no publicity and are uniquely focused on tending their excellent holdings and winemaking, many have not heard of them or tried their wines before. This is what makes it so exciting as an importer to introduce our customers to these very special wines!
