ROSSIGNOL TRAPET 2005 GEVREY CHAMBERTIN

  

This is something of a regal union, the Rossignol family having owned vineyards in Volnay since the 16th Century and Trapets since the 18th.  Rossignol-Trapet is the result of a marriage of Jacques Rossignol and Mado Trapet.  Given their connections, they have some pretty good dirt and, from what we tasted, they have good touch in the cellar.  Also important is that they have a reasonable grip on reality as far as pricing goes.  It’s a rare find in Burgundy and this domaine is still a little under the radar as far as the critics go but that’s OK with us.  The farming here is biodynamic and the transferring and racking is all done by gravity so as not to shock the wine. Everything in the vineyard is done by hand including getting the same team to pick every year.  In other words, it sounds like they are doing everything right and, while these might not be the flashiest on the block, Burgundy lovers should be well pleased.
The 1.8 hectares of vineyard where some of this comes from are called En Combes and Clos de Combe to the north of the village, vineyards with heavier clay soils that yield wines that are deeper and richer.  This juice is combined with fruit from vineyards to the east that are on gentle sloping soils that are gravelly and well drained.  The resulting wine has underlying notes of mineral supporting a slow to open but delicious fruit that leans to the darker end of the red spectrum.  Again there is structure, transparency and persistent flavors.