2016 GEVREY CHAMBERTIN 1ER CRU LES CORBEAUX CHRISTIAN SÉRAFIN - 6x75cl

Tasting Notes

• 

  Goedhuis, December 2017

  Corbeaux means curved hollow in old French and this vineyard lies in a small dip beside Mazis Chambertin. It is renowned for making wines with charm and approachability. It was unusually closed the day we tasted, Frédérique felt, possibly due to the sudden drop in temperature. Perhaps it was more sensitive than some of the more structured, robust wines in their cellar. All the components are there though for a very fine wine.

• 

  Burghound, January 2018,
  Score: 89-92

  Reduction currently overshadows everything but the wood treatment. Otherwise there is excellent volume to the robust and overtly muscular middle weight plus flavors that culminate in a rustic, firm and youthfully austere finish where a touch of wood resurfaces. This is a big and very serious wine and while it is not firm to the point of being hard, it clearly needs time to harmonize. Drink: 2024+

• 

  Stephen Tanzer, January 2018,
  Score: 90-92

  Bright, dark red. A touch of gamey reduction to the aromas of blueberry, blackberry, violet and licorice; showing less new oak on the nose than most of these 2016s. Densely packed and suave on entry, then quite tightly wound in the middle palate, showing less early sweetness and a juicier quality than the old-vines Gevrey. This distinctly masculine wine is a bit youthfully severe, with its very firm tannins reaching the front teeth. But I suspect it will benefit from the de-gassing effect of a racking.

• 

  Jancis Robinson, January 2018,
  Score: 16.5

  Rich and winning – transparent and rather charming though with a hint of creamy coffee (an oak effect?). Drink 2026-2042

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Producer

Domaine Sérafin Père et Fils

The Sérafin family are part of the establishment in Gevrey Chambertin. From when he took over from his father in the 1960 until his recent retirement, if you ever want to get in touch with Christian, you either had to call him as the rooster crowed in the morning or long after the sun had set. The rest of the time, he was working out in the vines or deep in his cellars. The domaine is now run by cousins Frédérique and Karine who are continuing the family tradition of making bold and structured wines. Their Pinots benefit from a period of bottle age and typically express fine tertiary characteristics. They do not fine or filter their wines, and only rack when necessary. Not shy of new oak, they use up to 50% on their straight Bourgogne and often 100% on the rest of their cuvées depending on the concentration. The wines tend to be ample and fleshy, and the richest ones need some cellaring in order to better integrate the spicy, cedarwood flavours.