2012 Bourgogne Rouge

Denis Bachelet's small cellar is stark for how empty the barrel room is. In 2012 yields are down from 30% to more than 50% for the Charmes. According to Bachelet mildew in May and bad weather during the flowering were the main culprits. Flowering was drawn out over an entire month, whereas in a normal year everything is said and done in about a week. If that wasn't bad enough, the oldest vines were affected the most by the dismal weather. As is the custom here, the wines were racked before the malos, something that is done largely because of space considerations. Even though the malos were quite late the 2012s showed beautifully. This is a gorgeous set of wines from Denis Bachelet. The heartbreak is likely to be in trying to find them.