Mazis-Chambertin is a small grand cru at the northern end of Gevrey-Chambertin's run of grands crus, and Olivier Bernstein farms his own vines here. His 2019 has a dense, silky build with red and dark fruit, flowers and a stony, almost coal-like mineral streak.
About This Wine
Mazis-Chambertin covers about nine hectares, with Ruchottes-Chambertin just above it on the slope. Bernstein's wine comes from two plots, one in Mazis-Bas and one in Mazis-Haut, and it is made with a good share of whole clusters, which shows in the lift and spice. In 2019 that stem-derived lift helps carry the ripeness of a warm, dry year.
Tasting Profile
- Nose: Redcurrant, black plum and dark cherry, with fresh herbs, flowers and gravelly mineral notes.
- Palate: Broad and dense but silky, with ripe tannin and a cool mineral line through the middle.
- Finish: Long, with red and blue berries, floral lift and a savoury, stony close.
Serving & Food
This needs time; we would wait until about 2028 and expect it to run well past 2040. Decant for up to two hours when young and serve at 17°C in a large-bowled glass. Try it with beef Wellington, jugged hare, or a mushroom and truffle pithivier.
How to Enjoy
Serious Gevrey lovers and cellars planned for the long haul.
Product Details
Producer: Olivier Bernstein
Country: France
Region: Gevrey-Chambertin, Côte de Nuits, Burgundy
Appellation: Mazis-Chambertin Grand Cru
Vintage: 2019
Grape: Pinot Noir
Closure: Natural cork
Volume: 750mL
About the Maison
Bernstein's first vintage, 2007, drew attention straight away, and both Jancis Robinson and Allen Meadows wrote warmly about the early releases. Much of that came from a clear winemaking style. He is a confident user of whole bunches: in the ripe 2015 vintage, for example, he fermented around 80 per cent whole clusters to keep freshness against the warmth of the year.
The approach is precise rather than heavy. Fruit is picked for balance and extraction is gentle. Critics who follow the Côte de Nuits, among them William Kelley and Jasper Morris, have kept reviewing the wines closely as the house has matured.