Pure, bright, vibrant, the wines from 2010 have, like 2008 or 2001, all the qualities of late September vintages, made from grapes that ripened slowly under a mild weather. But they also have a fullness of texture that one would expect to find only in warmer vintages and this combination confers an exceptional character to the vintage.
The secret is called “millerandage”. This is an incomplete fertilization of grape blossoms usually caused by cold and rainy weather in June, which produces small-size, thick skin, seedless grapes, bringing when fully mature a special quality of supple and velvety tannins.
The bad side of it (and the reason why vine-growers are not too enthusiastic about rain during blossom period) is the low yield, which was specially marked in our Chambolle-Musigny (“village”) vineyard.