2013 Chambolle-Musigny Les Amoureuses 1er Cru

François Millet told me that following "a bad September, with storms from the south," he picked late in 2013, bringing in his fruit between October 5 and 13 with about 12% potential alcohol, then chaptalizing lightly (none of the finished wines will reach 13%). The ripeness of the skins gave intense color, black fruits and spices, he went on. "I like the contrast between freshness and minerality." The wines here have very low pHs but Millet described the acidity as "fresh rather than tart. The vintage has an element of grace." Although Millet destems his fruit, he vinifies with a high percentage of uncrushed berries. The wines had been racked to air in August following the late malolactic fermentations, which Millet credited for preserving freshness in the wines, then racked again to remove the lees a few days before my visit.