Chambertin
Styles
Principal grape varieties
Accessory grape varieties
Terroir
Natural factors
- The vineyard lies within the rectilinear relief of the Côte de Nuits, of tectonic origin, which extends for approximately 25 kilometres in a general north–south direction.
- This relief separates the calcareous plateaux of the Hautes Côtes, to the west, at between 400 and 500 metres in altitude, from the Bresse plain, a Tertiary rift valley, at approximately 250 metres.
- The hillside, east-facing, rests on a substrate of hard limestones, formerly quarried as freestone, overlaid by a layer of marl dated to the Bajocian, a stage of the Middle Jurassic.
- The soils are weakly developed, generally calcareous and shallow but well-draining despite a high clay content, particularly over the limestone substrate, with the marly layer likely responsible for intermittent water seepage.
- The cool oceanic climate is tempered by continental or southerly influences channelled along the Rhône–Saône axis, with moderate rainfall of approximately 750 millimetres per year and a mean annual temperature of 10.5°C.
- The topographical position of the parcels shelters the Chambertin vines from the risk of frost and morning fog, while providing an east-facing exposure that promotes rapid warming of the soil.
Human factors
- From 1730 onwards, the merchant Jobert gradually acquired control of the Chambertin vines and eventually became their sole owner, contributing to the renown of the cru.
- Producers formed a syndicate in 1929, a court ruling in 1931 restricted use of the name Chambertin to the lieu-dit alone, and the appellation d'origine contrôlée was formally recognised by decree in 1937.
- The vines are trained at planting densities above 9,000 vines per hectare, with the encépagement based on the Pinot noir variety.
Product characteristics
- The wines display an intense, deep red colour, which may show violet hints in their youth, with aromas of red fruits, black fruits, floral notes, undergrowth, liquorice, and spice.
- On the palate, concentration delivers power, balance, and harmony, with a lively attack followed by a finish that combines richness and elegance, yielding wines characterised by considerable ageing potential.
Facts drawn from the specification's terroir-link section by automatic interpretation — see the source.
About this boundary
On the map, at overview zooms, this appellation is drawn as a silhouette of its vineyard generalised at 132 m from the INAO parcel delimitation; the parcels themselves appear as you zoom in.
Open Wine Map