By Domaine Antonin Guyon
Chambolle-Musigny Les Cras 2015

Background
Domaine Antonin Guyon is one of the most prestigious estates in the Cote d'Or, as well as one of the largest family-owned wineries in the region. It was started in the 1960s by Antonin Guyon with parcels of land in Gevrey and Meursault. Today, the massive 116-acre property is controlled and operated by Antonin's sons, Dominique and Michel and produces wines of impeccable quality from 15 different appellations, which includes many renowned villages from the region. An exceptional range of Premier and Grands Crus.

Winemaking and Vintage Notes
The village designated Les Cras vineyard site sits just below the 1er Cru of the same name. Superbly situated, the soils are a mix of iron-rich clay and limestone rock. Grapes are hand-harvested and then carried in small wooden boxes to the cellar, where they are sorted. Fermentation takes place for 15 days in open wooden vats at a controlled temperature, with punching down.

Ageing
The wine is aged for 18 months in French oak barrels, 25% of which are new.

Tasting Notes
Elegant and stylish, Chambolle-Musigny is known for its deep intense red and black fruits with a subtle power in depth and finish. It ages well and can be kept for 10 years. Pairs with red meats, chicken with wild mushroom sauces and most cheeses.

Wine Details
Winemaker: Dominique Antonin
Varietal Composition: 100% Pinot Noir
Alcohol: 13.00%
Suggested Retail Price: $84.99
[Information provided by Taub Family Selections]

Domaine Antonin Guyon 2015 Les Cras (Chambolle-Musigny)
Points: 91
Designation: Les Cras
Variety: Pinot Noir
Appellation: Chambolle-Musigny, Burgundy, France
Winery: Domaine Antonin Guyon
Alcohol: 13%
Bottle Size: 750 ml
Category: Red
Importer: Esprit du Vin
Date Published: 2/1/2018
Still firm and tight, this structured wine at the moment is about tannins rather than fruit. Don't worry, the fruit is there, giving weight to the wine with its rich berry character. Just allow it time and drink from 2021.

Domaine Antonin Guyon 2015 Chambolle-Musigny "Les Cras" Villages Red barrel

Note: Les Cras is a split-rated vineyard and this is from the villages portion
Producer note: This large 48 ha domaine is directed by Dominique Guyon and his maitre de chai Vincent Nicot. As to the 2015 vintage they noted that "the growing season was basically simple after the travails of the last three years so we can't complain. We began picking on the 4th of September and the fruit could really not have been any cleaner. Maturities were good in every sense though yields could certainly have been better and especially so in our Cote de Beaune vineyards. Part of the problem was the accumulated stress of the hail and part of it was a flowering that didn't pass particularly well in pinot. The real problem though was that the heat of the summer had thickened the skins to the point that there just wasn't much juice in the berries. On the plus side though this made for musts with high levels of solids to liquids so the extractions came easily; in fact we watched the extractions carefully as it would have been easy to have overly tannic reds. To be sure the reds certainly don't lack for concentration and structure but they're well-balanced and should drink well young and old." I was thoroughly impressed by the general level that I found chez Guyon in 2015 and in particular their Aloxe 1ers and Corton grands crus are excellent. Note that the Bourgogne-Hautes Cotes and the two Pernand 1ers of Les Fichots and Les Vergelesses are sold under the label of Domaine Dominique Guyon. (Esprit du Vin French Wine Merchants, www.edvwines.com, NY, USA; Berry Brothers & Rudd, www.bbr.com, Fields, Morris & Verdin, www.fmvwines.com and Friarwood Ltd., www.friarwood.com, all UK).

Tasting note: This is also presently fairly reduced and unreadable on the nose. The stony middle weight flavors possess a really lovely mouth feel thanks to the fine-grained tannins supporting the saline, powerful and driving finish. This is a big and muscular Chambolle villages though one that I suspect will round into form relatively quickly. Recommended.

Score: 89-91
Tasted: Apr 15, 2017
Drink: 2021+
Issue: 66
Outstanding Top value

Domaine Antonin Guyon, Les Cras, Chambolle-Musigny, 2015
Tasted by Stephen Brook
Tasting Score: 87
Lightly reduced nose, but there are vibrant raspberry aromas in the background. Fairly rich and sleek, and lifted by marked acidity that gives a more pinched mid-palate. Plenty of fruit here but a touch angular on the finish. Drinking Window 2018 - 2024