Domaine Thomas-Moillard – Charmes-Chambertin 'Grand Cru' 1986

The Domaine Thomas-Moillard Charmes-Chambertin ‘Grand Cru’ 1986 is a red wine of great pedigree and one of Burgundy’s most historic names. The estate looks back on a long history dating back to the time before the French Revolution, when the Moillard family already owned vineyards in Nuits-Saint-Georges. The estate’s modern era began in 1848, when Symphorien Moillard married Margueritte Grivot, the daughter of a vineyard owner. Over the following generations, further plots were acquired and the estate grew steadily; the estate’s holdings expanded dramatically when Symphorien’s daughter married into the Thomas family of winegrowers. Over time, the estate operated under various names such as Thomas-Moillard, Moillard, Moillard-Grivot and Maison Moillard, reflecting the typical Burgundian family traditions and the generational changes in the estate’s management.

The Charmes-Chambertin is the largest of the nine Grand Cru vineyards in Gevrey-Chambertin and covers an area of approximately 78 acres. The vineyard stretches between the village of Morey-Saint-Denis in the south and Gevrey-Chambertin in the north. Wines from this prestigious appellation are renowned for their richness and elegance, without displaying excessive power, and they possess great ageing potential. The grapes for the 1986 vintage, a pure Pinot Noir, were harvested by the Thomas-Moillard family from their own plots in this famous vineyard. The estate, which owned around 30 hectares in Burgundy, practised a classic and traditional style of winemaking.

The 1986 vintage in Burgundy was characterised by changeable weather, which resulted in wines with good structure and often slightly firmer tannins, though these can gain in elegance with age. This Charmes-Chambertin is stated to have an alcohol content of 13.5 % vol. The tasting notes describe an exceptionally smooth wine with a delightful aroma of ripe fruit. The nose is dominated by black fruits, whilst on the palate sweet notes of red fruits come to the fore. This is a food-friendly wine with considerable ageing potential, which is excellently suited to cellaring and should be served at a temperature of around 16°C for optimal enjoyment.

The legacy of Domaine Thomas-Moillard came to an end in 2008, when the remaining part of the estate was sold to Vincent Sauvestre . The magnificent plots, including those in Charmes-Chambertin, passed into other hands; for example, in 2005, Domaine Dujac acquired some of the estate’s most exceptional vineyards. The 1986 Charmes-Chambertin ‘Grand Cru’ from Thomas-Moillard is therefore a testament to a bygone era of Burgundian winemaking – a complex, matured Grand Cru that reflects the elegance and terroir of its origin in every bottle.