2008 Domaine Robert Chevillon

“There is no bigger name in the village than that of Robert Chevillon, who is nearly universally recognized as the finest producer in Nuits St. Georges today.”
John Gilman

 

“They have finesse and a concentration and a distinct individuality, climat from climat, which is rare in the commune. They are poised and rich and harmonious. They last well. How does he do it?" Coates in Cote d'Or.

This is one of the very best, most pleasure-giving Domaines of Burgundy and one of the most reliable too. Many writers and commentators state that Chevillon is the best or equal best domaine (along with Gouges) in Nuits St. Georges. The style is perfumed, juicy, balanced, concentrated and rich. This is not to say they aren’t nuanced, complex and expressive, for they most definitely are! The Chevillon brothers are two of the most hard working vignerons I know of in all of Burgundy, and this combined with skill and passion, plus a quiver full of mature and old vines (many in excess of 80yo) provides you and I with more than ample reasons to buy these wines year in-year out. 

Bertrand Chevillon originally said the 2008 vintage was "one where we were kept in the dark as we didn't know if we were ever going to have a warm enough spell to ripen the grapes. Thankfully, September was almost perfect with a steady north wind that really saved us. We did a lot of leaf plucking on the north side of the vines (to encourage more ripeness) and we picked at the end of September (in 2007 we picked on the 1st Sept. And in 2008 it was the 25th!). Even though there was a lot of sorting to be done due to constant rain in July and August, the result was no worse than many recent successful vintages.”

He said “the ripeness was between 12% and 12.5% so very little chaptalisation was necessary.” And whislt northern neighbour Marie-André Mugneret describes the 2008 vintage as “like 2007 but with more energy and structure”, Chevillon describes it as “a blend of the fruit and richness of 2000 with the acidity, terroir transparency and elegance of 2001.” To illustrate that less than amazing vintages can sometimes be forgotten in the shadows of great ones like 2009 Bertrand opened a 1991 on my recent visit. It was magnificent, youthful nuanced, opulent and very impressive!

And the 2009s...
The 2009 Chevillon’s are the best from this producer that I have ever tasted in my (over 30 year Burgundy tasting carrier. It is probably as perfect a vintage as one could ever wish for. They are truly amazing! All the opulence and concentration of 2005, with possibly more perfume and expression. Buyers of the 2008’s from this offer will be guaranteed of being offered at least the same quantity of the 2009s).

2008 Chevillon Nuits St.-Georges Vieilles Vignes

Retail Price $102 | Offer Price $87

This is from 4 parcels averaging 50 years’ old.  It is always one of Burgundy’s best value and most reliable village wines! This is rich and opulent, full of pinot fruit and spice. It has lovely weight and impressive concentration.

“A ripe and unexpectedly seductive nose of red and blue pinot fruit with less earth influence than is typical is followed by rich, round and vibrant middle weight flavours that possess good mid-palate density and fine length. This is not overly complex but it's attractive within the context of what it is. 86-89 points.” Allen Meadows’ Burghound.

 

 

2008 Chevillon Nuits St.-Georges 1er Cru 'Les Vaucraines'

Retail Price $180 | Offer Price $153
LIMITED - SOLD AS PART OF BALANCED ORDERS ONLY

This vineyard, situated in “golden section” of central the Nuits commune [with the other great section being the “Vosne sector in the North] is usually the most structured of the Chevillons. It adjoins Les St. Georges and Les Cailles, and in 2008 produced a very beautiful, well structured and concentrated wine; very “sweet” and spicy. The 80 y.o. vines performed very well. Bertrand says that, stylistically speaking, this is one of his three “strong” wines; the others fitting into his classification as;

“Feminine” (i.e. perfumed, seductive, complex) Chagnots, Bossieres, Cailles. 
“Medium” (i.e. aromatically complex, with good structure) Perrieres, Roncieres.
“Strong” (i.e. needing time, muscular, deep) Les St Georges, Vaucrains, Prulieres.

“Ripe, elegant and dense aromas of blue and black pinot fruit plus floral nuances and one can smell the concentration of the rich, thick, mouth coating and impressively scaled flavours that stain the palate with chewy pinot extract and culminates in a textured, structured and superbly long finish that should be capable of extended aging. Magnificent. 92-94 points.” Allen Meadows’ Burghound.

 

 

2008 Chevillon Nuits St.-Georges 1er Cru 'Les Cailles'

Retail Price $168 | Offer Price $143
LIMITED - SOLD AS PART OF BALANCED ORDERS ONLY

This is a fairly flat site with deep soil which would normally give a more tannic wine with less perfume. However in Chevillon’s case,  the wine is usually [including 2008] more “feminine” with a pure, filigreed bouquet, with “sweet” fruit and spices. It is round sensual and long.

“The most complex array of aromas to this point with an airy, elegant and classy nose brimming with violets, anise, earth and red currant notes that complement to perfection the rich, full-bodied, generous and round medium weight plus flavours that explode onto the hugely long and powerful finish. A wine that manages to pull off the rare feat of being at once imposing yet highly refined. 91-94 points.” Allen Meadows’ Burghound.

 

 

2008 Chevillon Nuits St.-Georges 1er Cru 'Les Pruliers'

Retail Price $140 | Offer Price $119

LIMITED - SOLD AS PART OF BALANCED ORDERS ONLY
“Always more structured and with more extract and concentration” says Bertrand. This has a more liqueurous character with Kirsch and Cherry Brandy nuances. It is impressive, and is deeply concentrated.

“A slightly riper mix of lightly spiced violets, blue fruit and warm earth aromas precedes textured and admirably concentrated medium-bodied flavours that possess a supple mid-palate but a serious, long, firm and mouth coating finish. This too is terrific. 91-93 points.” Allen Meadows’ Burghound.

 

 

2008 Chevillon Nuits St.-Georges 1er Cru 'Les Perrieres'

Retail Price $140 | Offer Price $119

LIMITED - SOLD AS PART OF BALANCED ORDERS ONLY

“Perrieres” like so many other Burgundy vineyard names, means “stones”. In this case the limestone endows the wine with the most “mineral” character of the Chevillon range, although there is plenty of ripe fruit and lovely complexity too. 

 

“An elegant, pure and stony cool red berry fruit nose laced with earth and underbrush nuances, both of which can also be found on the beautifully detailed and strikingly complex flavours that culminate in a long and linear finish. In a word, terrific. 91-93 points.” Allen Meadows’ Burghound

 

 

2008 Chevillon Nuits St.-Georges 1er Cru 'Les Chaignots'

SOLD OUT

Always the most ethereal and Vosne like, this has texture like expensive silk and beautiful perfume and mouthfilling, caressing flavours and textures that are really impressive.

 

“A spicy and wonderfully complex nose of red and blue pinot fruit that offers up violets and earth notes, both of which continue onto the pure, refined and poised middle weight flavours that possess outstanding balance and excellent length. Lovely and I admire how fine the tannins are. 90-92 points.” Allen Meadows’ Burghound.

 

 

 

2008 Chevillon Nuits St.-Georges 1er Cru 'Les Roncieres'

Retail Price $135 | Offer Price $115

Situated next to Prulieres this is seductive yet quite a powerful wine. There is ripe “cassis” and spice with plenty of drive on the palate.

 

“This is also notably ripe with a mélange of red currant and blue berry aromas that are also nuanced by anise and herb hints that serve to introduce very fresh and vibrant flavours that possess a textured mouth feel and ample finishing complexity. 89-91 points.” Allen Meadows’ Burghound.

 

 

2008 Chevillon Nuits St.-Georges 1er Cru 'Aux Bousselots'

Retail Price $135 | Offer Price $115

Bousselots lies south of Chaignots and is a very “feminine” style according to Bertrand. This very concentrated and fragrant, with beautiful spicy, underbrush and “sweet” fruit flavours.  It is pure and mouth-wateringly seductive.

 

“Relatively strong reduction blocks the nose but the nicely rich, forward and round medium-bodied flavors are fresh and vibrant in the mouth, all wrapped in a lightly mineral-driven and precise finish. A Bousselots of finesse. 88-91 points.” Allen Meadows’ Burghound.