Domaine Rossignol-Trapet 2021

Every now and then, just like a surfer catching a great wave, a everything seems to fall into place and a domaine calls a vintage just about perfectly. More often than not I get a sense of this success amongst a producer’s more modest crus.

Tasting the 2021s with Nicolas Rossignol, one of the first things I wrote about the first wine we tasted was: “this feels like a really smart vintage for R-T.”

The challenges of the 2021 vintage meant that David and Nicolas had a reduced crop and their harvest was about 30% down on an average year, although the Cotes de Nuits vines were hit less hard than the frost-devastated plots in Beaune 1er Cru Teurons. Due to uneven ripeness they reduced their use of whole bunches slightly, although stems bring a delightful seasoning of spice to some crus. Alcohol levels are a modest 12.5-13% throughout the range, which the brothers attribute to their biodynamic farming and resultant vine balance.

In 2021 the wines of Domaine Rossignol-Trapet play to the strengths of the vintage. They are beautifully judged in terms of ripeness and weight, elegant and expressive. Red fruit dominates throughout and the vivid, fluid qualities of 2021 are captured in high definition. Tannins tend to have a juicy, sappy texture that is refreshing and crunchy, becoming firmer and more mineral in wines like Petite Chapelle and (especially) Latricieres.

Chambertin itself is not a powerhouse wine in 2021 but a subtle and softly-spoken rendition of this Grand Cru that builds layer after layer on the palate.

Some years the Rossignol-Trapet wines can be very reserved and a bit taciturn when tasting from barrel. The 2021s express the very best elements of the vintage with clarity and purity – they are going to be a joy to drink.

The Offer:
Offered subject to allocation and remaining unsold. This is an en primeur offer and the wines will be available in SG in Q3 2023.

Domaine Rossignol-Trapet 2021

Gevrey Chambertin Vieilles Vignes
30 cases (1×6) OC available @ $480 per case (w/ GST $518.40)
The opening cru sets the tone for this superb range of 2021s. Red fruit is vivid and fluid, much more expressive than in some years. There’s 35-50% whole bunch used across the range and here and the spice elements are clear on the palate. Quite structural for a village wine – more so than at some other domaines – but has lovely length and sap. Clear Gevrey crunch on the finish.
90-92pts – Matthew Hemming MW

Mid crimson. An attractive reasonably perfumed nose, roses and red fruit. Medium bodied, a softer strawberry fruit, with fair length and the right fruit acid balance. Drink from 2025-2029. Tasted: November 2022.
88-90pts – Jasper Morris MW / insideburgundy.com

Gevrey Chambertin Aux Etelois
20 cases (1×6) OC available @ $540 per case (w/ GST $583.20)
Less expressive than the Vielles Vignes with a richer, darker fruit character although the overall impression is still at the red end of the spectrum. At this stage there’s impressive volume, fruit density and spice on the mid-palate but it’s yet to unfurl on the finish. Tannins are firm and earthy, and the potential is all there, but for now it’s all bunched up in the middle.
89-91pts – Matthew Hemming MW

Here the whole cluster vinification is more evident as there are prominent floral elements adding breadth and a touch of elegance to the spicy essence of red cherries and soft earth. The sleeker and more finely textured medium-bodied flavors possess a succulent, even caressing, mid-palate that contrasts mildly with the bitter pit fruit-inflected and youthfully austere finale.
89-91pts – Allen Meadows

Beaune 1er Cru Les Teurons
5 cases (1×6) OC available @ $480 per case (w/ GST $518.40)
This vineyard saw the estate’s biggest losses to the frost and delivered only 20hl/ha – the resulting wine is gorgeous though. Really striking aroma – sweet red fruit with an almost peachy edge. Great clarity of fruit – whistle clean and fragrant. Not complex but very assured and creamy.
90-92pts – Matthew Hemming MW

A very small crop here, at 15 hl/ha. A mid crimson colour. The perfume is attractive and there is some depth to it. This actually kicks on very well, with strawberries and fresh plums, a few tannins behind make the finish drier but the fruit is plentiful enough. Drink from 2025-2030. Tasted: November 2022.
90-92pts – Jasper Morris MW

Gevrey Chambertin 1er Cru Clos Prieur
8 cases (1×6) OC available @ $960 per case (w/ GST $1,036.80)
*Limited to 1 case per person*
Exotic fruit aromas, almost some peachy and white stone fruit notes alongside the red berry notes. Rides on fruit but does have a seam of acid and energy buried beneath. Has a sappy, pithy quality to the texture that brings lift. Gentle and rounded on the finish.
90-92pts – Matthew Hemming MW

This is also overtly floral in character with slightly more elegant aromas of various red berries, newly turned earth and a hint of smoked meat character. The delicious medium-bodied flavors possess a lovely sense of underlying tension as well as a subtle minerality that seems to become more prominent on the youthfully austere and lengthy finish. This too could use better depth but that should reasonably occur.
90-93pts – Allen Meadows – ‘Outstanding’

Gevrey Chambertin 1er Cru Petite Chapelle
7 cases (1×6) OC available @ $960 per case (w/ GST $1,036.80)
*Limited to 1 case per person*
12 magnums OC available @ $360 per magnum (w/ GST $388.80)
*Limited to 3 magnums per person*
A serious and emphatically Gevrey character – red fruit, earth tones and spice – this shouts of its origins and couldn’t come from any other village. There’s greater intensity and a latent power in this wine. Fruit is robust and juicy, buffered by ripe tannins and a firm framework – from clay soils that assert themselves in the structure and taut finish.
91-93pts – Matthew Hemming MW

This too is admirably fresh and bright with more subtle earth and floral influences that add breadth to the pure red pinot fruit aromas. There is also a lovely texture and outstanding intensity to the moderately concentrated middleweight flavors that brim with mineral nuances and are shaped by notably fine-grained tannins on the mildly austere but beautifully complex finish. Lovely juice with fine development potential.
91-93pts – Allen Meadows – ‘Outstanding’

Chapelle Chambertin Grand Cru
8 cases (1×6) OC available @ $1,590 per case (w/ GST $1,717.20)
*Limited to 1 case per person*
**we ask for 1:1 with Gevrey Chambertin VV or Gevrey Aux Etelois**
A bit more subdued and subtle next to the Latricieres (served next). Plummy red fruits and spices take the lead on the nose. Soft, voluminous and more generous than Latricieres. Will be more immediate and is easier to understand. A high-toned twist on the back end adds complexity and brings some lift. Plump, generous and satisfying finish with some saline characters.
92-94pts – Matthew Hemming MW

No deeper in colour but a greater purity and intensity along with a few white peppers. Much mores seductive and coherent fruit across the palate, fewer tannins and slightly more built on the fruit acid balance. Drink from 2027-2035. Tasted: November 2022.
92-95pts – Jasper Morris MW

Latricieres Chambertin Grand Cru
10 cases (1×6) OC available @ $1,650 per case (w/ GST $1,782)
*Limited to 1 case per person*
**we ask for 1:1 with Gevrey Chambertin VV or Gevrey Aux Etelois**
6 magnums available @ $650 per magnum (w/ GST $702)
*Limited to 3 magnums per person*
I immediately want this in magnums! Gorgeously ripe, spicy and meaty fruit. Almost a minty note. There’s a controlled decadence about this. The ripeness is high but held in check. Tannins are velvety and deep-pile – like a luxurious carpet – turning mineral on the finish.
92-95pts – Matthew Hemming MW

Mid red to crimson. Latricières this year has one of the soft rich deep strawberry noses. There is a significant weight of fruit here, then rather dry behind. Ripe crushed strawberries. Tannins firmer. Not in place today, but there is more volume of fruit in the mouth than Chapelle. Just needs time. Drink from 2027-2035. Tasted: November 2022.
92-95pts – Jasper Morris MW

Chambertin Grand Cru
15 cases (1×6) OC available @ $2,880 per case (w/ GST $3,110.40)
*Limited to 1 case per person*
**we ask for 1:1 with Gevrey Chambertin VV or Gevrey Aux Etelois**
A subtle and softly spoken style of Chambertin. Builds on the palate, insistently adding layer after layer of flavour and complexity. Very juicy red fruit – the intensity and weight of which delivers Grand Cru stature and, at first, masks the brightness of the acids that really take off and deliver a soaring finish.
93-95pts – Matthew Hemming MW

Here the equally broad ranging nose is actually similar to that of the Latricières but it’s both cooler and even more restrained with a bit more floral influence as well to the sauvage red and dark cherry aromas. The intensely mineral-driven broad-shouldered flavors are quite rich, indeed even seductive, with evident power on the youthfully austere, firm and beautifully persistent finale. While this is certainly austere, it is less so than usual. Excellent development potential here.
92-95pts – Allen Meadows – ‘Sweet spot’

Terms & Conditions
Offer ends on Friday 7th April 2023 l No further discount l Immediate payment required l Delivery fees ($32.40) waived for purchases above $500 before GST excluding airports | Cancellation of orders not allowed l Order/s to be collected/delivered within 1 month upon stock availability l Offered Ex-Singapore & subject to remaining unsold​