2013 Domaine Georges Mugneret Gibourg, Ruchottes-Chambertin Grand Cru 1×1.5L

Vinous 93

Deep medium red. Very reticent nose hints at red berries, truffley underbrush and nutty oak. Fatter, sweeter and richer than the Echézeaux, displaying superb volume for the year. Ripe redcurrant and graphite flavors are enlivened by minty mineral lift. Finishes with fine tannins and plenty of lightly peppery acidity to support a graceful evolution in bottle. Perhaps a bit less harmonious in the early going than the wonderfully silky Echézeaux. [Stephen Tanzer, 01/03/2016]

Anticipated maturity: 2023-2035

Robert Parker 94-96

The 2013 Ruchottes Chambertin Grand Cru, which is aged in 70-75% new oak, has a very precise bouquet with pastille-like poise and freshness: wild strawberry and dark cherries, a touch of violet petal in the background. The palate is medium-bodied with quite a succulent entry, nicely judged acidity, becoming denser toward the finish with a gentle but insistent grip. There is a spicy note on the tip of the tongue that lingers long afterwards. This is a very fine follow-up to the stupendous 2012 Ruchottes. People often ask: “What is favorite Burgundy grower” to which I often reply: “Mugneret-Gibourg.” As I mentioned in my roundup of 2012s last year, their wines epitomize everything that the Côte d’Or should be. Whenever I depart a tasting from this address in the heart of Vosne, I feel an urge to just buy a case of everything I have just tasted. Like last year it was Marie-Christine he greeted me and escorted me down to their cellars and before we set about their small roster of 2013, she adumbrated the growing season… “It [2013] began later than other vintages and it was a little bit difficult because we were afraid of the weather. We were always anxious. It was raining and in September the weather was not very nice (fortunately in 2014 it was much better.) During the 2013 harvest, which was picked from 5 October over five days, we had some rain. In Ruchotte-Chambertin, on the first day [of the harvest] it was a Saturday and the pickers from Rousseau, Roumier and Mugneret-Gibourg were in the vineyard with their raincoats. Christophe and Eric’s daughters were saying: ‘When you have to go, you have to go.’ It was the first time we were all in the vineyard at the same time because the forecast was bad. Of course we used the sorting table, but there was not so much disease there, and it was nearly all O.K. Everything here was destemmed as normal. It was a classical vinification. Then we could relax a little. When we put the wine in barrel it was later than in 2014, the cellars colder and perhaps this retarded the malolactic fermentation. The malolactics finished in June and then we racked in July. The 2013s will be begin bottling in February until June.” [Neal Martin, 12/01/2014]

Anticipated maturity: 2017-2035