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- 2016 Domaine Denis Bachelet, Gevrey-Chambertin Premier Cru, Les Corbeaux Vv
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2016 Domaine Denis Bachelet, Gevrey-Chambertin Premier Cru, Les Corbeaux Vv
Bottle size (ML)
Current price
$704
Start Your Wine Collection with 2016 Domaine Denis Bachelet, Gevrey-Chambertin Premier Cru, Les Corbeaux Vv
Begin your portfolio with a prestigious wine that has a history of growth.- Enjoy fully managed, secure storage facilities with insurance coverage.
- Get expert advice on when to hold and when to sell.
Critics Scores
Decanter
The Corbeaux was more reserved at the time of our tasting, opening up in the glass to reveal a reticent bouquet of wild berries, rich soil and a framing of cedary oak. On the palate the wine displays more amplitude and structure than the village cuvées, but the same bright acidity and vibrant fruit.
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2016 Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Les Corbeaux has a very different aromatic profile than the Les Evocelles: this is more masculine and introspective, yet still very complex. The palate is medium-bodied with filigree tannin, perfectly judged acidity, understated and elegant with a cheeky touch of cassis popping up on the finish. Divine, but it will require a few years in bottle.
Burghound.com
There is a touch of the sauvage to the plum, wild currant and underbrush-suffused aromas. The supple and round yet impressively concentrated and powerful medium weight plus flavors possess good underlying muscle and ample punch before culminating in a firm but not really austere finale. In contrast to the prior wines that could basically be enjoyed young, this will require at least some patience and should amply recompense up to a decade of keeping.
Tim Atkin
Corbeaux is well situated, just outside the village next to the Mazis-Chambertin Grand Cru. This parcel was planted in 1920 and is one of the stars in Denis Bachelet’s cellar. The 50 new wood is deftly handled here, complementing the wine’s understated concentration. Crunchy, violet-perfumed and complex. 2022-30.
Burghound
There is a touch of the sauvage to the plum, wild currant and underbrush-suffused aromas. The supple and round yet impressively concentrated and powerful medium weight plus flavors possess good underlying muscle and ample punch before culminating in a firm but not really austere finale. In contrast to the prior wines that could basically be enjoyed young, this will require at least some patience and should amply recompense up to a decade of keeping.
Region Summary
Small in size but mighty in influence, Burgundy is home to some of the most sought-after and investment-worthy wines on Earth. Legendary vineyards and centuries of winemaking tradition combine to produce incomparably powerful pinot noirs and subtle chardonnays. Add in extremely low annual yields, and it’s easy to see why Burgundy’s prices are second to none.
Why We're Investing
Pound for pound, Burgundy (or Bourgogne to the locals) produces more expensive, high-appreciating wines than any other wine region. According to Liv-ex, Burgundy is also the best-performing region over the last five years, ten years, and 15 years. There’s no reason to think that will change anytime soon. That’s because Burgundians are obsessed with winegrowing. The fixation on slopes, soil, and sunlight is a way of life. And while demand is high, two historical figures have ensured that this world-class wine is increasingly produced in smaller and smaller quantities. First are the Cistercians, an order of Catholic monks founded in the 11th century who owned extensive property in Burgundy. They noticed that each of their vineyards produced slightly different wines based on the soil and sunlight. This realization laid the foundation for the region’s vineyard lines and its fixation with terroir. Today, French law protects vineyard lines, which prevents the expansion of property. But aren’t other regions like this? Not quite. Châteaux and producers in Bordeaux, Champagne, and elsewhere can source grapes from other vineyards for their wine. That is not the case in Burgundy. A vigneron cannot expand production unless they buy more land in their existing vineyard. That requires finding a willing seller, something that is rarer than most top-shelf Burgundies. The second important figure is Napoleon. (Yes, that Napoleon.) His Napoleonic Code required the equal distribution of inherited property and land amongst heirs. As a result, Burgundy’s vineyards are becoming further fragmented with each generation. Some prestigious winemakers have no more than one row of vines to their name. That’s not all. Burgundy has a semi-continental climate that contributes to low annual yields. A single severe frost or hail can decimate a harvest, even limiting the production of some wines to a single barrel. With unpredictable weather leaving yields in limbo each year, names like Domaine Leroy, Armand Rosseau, and Joseph Drouhin command a premium at auctions. Taken to the extreme, a single bottle of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti once sold for $558,000 at auction, a then-world record.
What's the Latest
Historically, Bordeaux has dominated the secondary wine market, once accounting for 96 of the trade by value. Buyers viewed Burgundy as too risky and fickle because of its semi-continental climate that contributed to inconsistent vintages. Modern technological advances in viticulture and vinification have offset some climate challenges, and Burgundy has rapidly gained market share. In 2022, Burgundy reached its highest percentage of trade by value at 51.0, temporarily eclipsing Bordeaux atop the wine world. People aren’t just investing in more Burgundy. They’re investing in different kinds of Burgundy wine, too. Over the last three years, the number of different Burgundies traded on the secondary market has risen 284. Consumer demand has expanded beyond the top sub-regions like Vosne-Romanée and Gevrey-Chambertin, and there is still room to grow. Perhaps most importantly, Burgundy remains resilient even in bumpy economic times. The iconic French region delivers what collectors and connoisseurs want most – brand equity, liquidity, and an extensive track record of growth. It makes Burgundy an easy asset to appreciate in any economic climate.
Looking Forward
The insatiable demand for Burgundy has taken the region to stratospheric heights. According to Liv-ex, the Burgundy 150 grew 39.3 in 2021. That was the second-best mark of any wine region, behind only Champagne at 41.5. Experts predict that momentum will carry into the coming years. Charles Antin, an auctioneer and head of wine auction sales at Zachys, put it this way, “We’re still setting world records for certain wines, but the graph can’t go up as steeply as it has, forever. My prediction is a cooling off, not a falling, but continuing to rise in the long run.” Even with climbing prices, eagle-eyed Vinovestors can still find remarkable deals. For instance, 2015 Domaine Leroy Musigny Grand Cru was released at $2,000 per bottle. Today, it retails for more than $100,000, if you can find it. Meanwhile, 2020 Domaine Leflaive Bâtard-Montrachet debuted at $1,600 per bottle, a bargain for anyone lucky enough to get their hands on a bottle.