Bright red-ruby. Slightly medicinal aromas of blackberry, licorice and violet complicated by a rocky quality. Pungent, tangy and high-pitched, offering a very fine-grained texture to its flavors of cassis, black cherry and violet; aeration brought a slightly less black note of raspberry and sexy savory soil tones. From vines on very shallow soil just across the Route des Grands Crus from Chambertin, this wine offers terrific punch and building sweetness. Both these vines and those in Mazoyères-Chambertin were planted shortly after World War II but a small part of the Charmes was replanted in 1998.

The 2016 Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru has quite a candied bouquet with vivacious red fruit laced with orange blossom and a touch of Earl Grey tea. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, juicier than the Corton Rognet but maybe without the same degree of precision on the finish. This is a gutsy, generous Charmes-Chambertin that should age well over the next 10 to 12 years, though in this vintage it is the Mazoyères that has the upper hand.