Domaine Trapet Père & Fils - Chambertin 'Grand Cru' 1986

The Domaine Trapet Père & Fils Chambertin Grand Cru 1986 is an exceptional Burgundy from a historic vintage for the estate and a renowned Grand Cru terroir.

🏛️ The estate: Domaine Trapet Père & Fils

The estate’s history dates back to 1870, when Louis Trapet settled in Gevrey-Chambertin and acquired his first vineyards. Over the generations, the estate grew, and by the 1920s the family was already one of Burgundy’s most prominent vineyard owners and the largest owner of Chambertin.

The year 1990marked a significant turning point : following the official retirement of Jean Trapet and his brother-in-law Jacques Rossignol, the family estate was divided. The original estate was renamed Domaine Trapet Père et Fils and has since been run by Jean-Louis Trapet, who took sole responsibility for the estate’s fortunes from the 1990 vintage onwards. The 1986 vintage thus falls within an exciting transitional phase, during which Jean-Louis Trapet had just joined his father Jean at the estate.

🍇 The vineyard: Chambertin Grand Cru

Chambertin is regarded as one of Burgundy’s most aristocratic appellations and as one of the greatest terroirs of all. Its location in the heart of the Côte de Nuits even led to the village of Gevrey-Chambertin officially being granted the suffix ‘Chambertin’ in 1847.

The Trapet estate owns 1 hectare and 90 aresin this prestigious Grand Cru vineyard , divided into three plots. The oldest vines were plantedin 1919. The soils consist of calcareous clay with a complex geological composition: the lower layer is clayey, whilst the upper layer is whiter and more clayey, which slows down the growth cycle and gives the wine a ‘regal and rare balance’.

🍷 The 1986 vintage and the character of the wine

Trapet’s Chambertin Grand Cru is describedas complex, virile, full-bodied and opulent, with exceptional aromatic depth and a beautiful tannin structure. The 1986 vintage is characterised as a mature yet still muscular Burgundy.

Tasting notes

A detailed tasting note from 2017 describes the wine as follows:

• Maturity: Fully matured with notes of sous-bois (undergrowth) and brown sugar.

• Body: Medium-bodied, but gains breadth and dimension in the glass.

• Aromas: Abundant meatiness, accompanied by deep, dark cherry and earthy notes.

• Palate: Displays a certain wildness and muscular, broad-shouldered character with concentrated flavours and great length.

A Japanese tasting note completes the picture: the wine displays a garnet colour with slight orange highlights, aromas of dried raspberries and cherries, dried lavender and sage, a hint of nutmeg and leather, and a stony minerality. On the palate , it is smooth and composed, with lively red fruit, herbs and spices, underpinned by elegant acidity and a long, acid-driven finish reminiscent of a cool vintage.

Another source describes the wine as ‘aromatically restrained’ with airy and elegant aromas of intensely floral, spicy and stony wild dark berries, and a Zen-like harmony and balance.

The ratings for this wine stand at 92 points (Tastingbook).

💎 Significance for collectors

This bottle is a remarkable collector’s item for several reasons:

• Historic vintage: 1986 was the year Jean-Louis Trapet joined the estate – the beginning of a new era.

• Grand Cru Prestige: Chambertin is one of Burgundy’s most legendary vineyards, and Trapet is among its most prominent owners.

• Maturity: An almost 40-year-old Grand Cru from a good vintage which, according to CellarTracker data, has reached or passed its drinking window but still possesses impressive structure.

• Biodynamic philosophy: Although the transition to biodynamic viticulture was not completed until 1996, the spirit of terroir preservation that characterises Trapet’s wines is already evident in this vintage.

As with all old Burgundies, the level, condition of the label and provenanceare crucialto the condition and correct storage of this bottle . An expert appraisal is recommended, particularly if the bottle is to be sold, insured or added to a collection.

If you would like to find out more about the winemaking process, the history of the estate or other vintages, I would be happy to assist you.