Domaine Barthod’s 2023 Châtelots has a lovely vein of spiciness running through both the nose and palate this year. The wine’s aromatic constellation is vibrant and complex, offering up notes of cherries, a touch of blood orange, a fine array of spice tones, chalky soil, roses, mustard seed and cedar. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied and more inherently structured out of the blocks than the lovely Combottes, with a good core of fruit, ripe tannins, lovely balance and a long, nascently complex and mineral-driven finish. This will need more time in the cellar to blossom than the Combottes, but it too will be an excellent wine in due course. (Drink between 2038-2080)John Gilman | 92+ JGPaler at the rim, relatively light on the nose, but attractively floral. With juicy fruit at the front of the palate, a darker raspberry, extending quite nicely across the palate.Jasper Morris | 90-92 JMHere too the nose is fresh, bright and quite pretty with its essence of red pinot fruit, spice and floral nuances. The supple and generous yet punchy medium-bodied flavors also possess an appealing mouthfeel as well as more evident minerality on the ever-so-mildly austere finale. (Drink starting 2029)Burghound | 89-91 BHThe 2023 Chambolle-Musigny Les Chatelots 1er Cru was quite muted on the nose when I tasted on a cloudy overcast day. It has pleasant brambly red fruit, though it’s just a little somber compared to other cuvées. The palate is medium-bodied with light tannins, not powerful but well balanced, with a straightforward strawberry-driven finish. It just needs a bit more bandwidth.Vinous Media | 88-90 VM
