Domaine G. Roumier
Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru 'Les Cras'
Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru
2014
Vintage
Varietal
Pinot Noir
ABV
Where it is, July 2026
At Peak: in the heart of its drinking window (2017-2036).
In 2026, the Roumier Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru Les Cras 2014 is at peak maturity, sitting in year nine of a 19-year drinking window that runs from 2017 through 2036. This mid-peak timing is an exceptional moment for the 2014 vintage specifically: the year's crystalline acidity and lower-than-average alcohol have produced wines that evolve slowly and gracefully, and at nine years on cork the Les Cras is displaying a seamless integration of primary red cherry fruit, secondary development, and the distinctive saline-mineral signature of the Cras climat. The tannins that were slightly grippy and angular at release have softened into a fine, chalky texture that feels almost tactile in the glass, and the wine's fresh acid drive continues to provide the spine that will carry it through the remainder of its peak window. This is Burgundy at the height of what the 2014 vintage promised: precision and elegance rather than power, and a mineral purity that only the finest Chambolle premier crus deliver. Discover the full range of great Burgundy via our [Burgundy region guide](/wines/region/burgundy) or explore more great [Pinot Noir](/wines/varietal/pinot-noir) in our cellar.
The ‘14 Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru 'Les Cras'.
Roumier's Les Cras 2014 captures everything that makes the 2014 vintage exceptional: crystalline acidity, saline precision, and a mineral purity that nine years of cellaring have brought into brilliant focus.
Drinking window
Tasting note
Translucent ruby with a garnet core and a clear, brightening rim that speaks to the 2014 vintage's restrained extraction and the wine's graceful nine years of evolution. The nose is distinctly crystalline and saline-driven: red cherry and sour cherry pit lead, lifted by a pronounced crushed slate and wet stone minerality that is the immediate signature of the Cras climat. There is a brightness to the aromatics that feels almost electric, a quality that distinguishes the 2014 vintage's wines from richer, more opulent Burgundy years. On the palate, the wine's pure acid drive is the first impression: a firm, laser-precise acidity that runs from attack through to finish, carrying with it waves of red cherry, raspberry, and dried rose petal fruit. The Cras climat's characteristic tannins are present in a chalky, slightly grippy form that has softened with cellaring but retains its structural identity. The mid-palate is silky but taut, never giving more than the vintage allows, and the finish extends on a long, savory mineral note with the saline quality that defines Les Cras as a lieu-dit. This is Chambolle-Musigny in its most intellectually demanding register: not warm or round, but precise, crystalline, and genuinely compelling in every glass.
The 2014 vintage
The 2014 growing season in Chambolle-Musigny was one of the most technically demanding and ultimately rewarding of the past decade. An unsettled spring with late frosts and uneven flowering reduced yields across the Cote de Nuits, followed by a cool, humid July that created disease management concerns for many growers. The critical turning point came in August: a warm, dry anticyclone settled over Burgundy from mid-August through harvest and allowed the vines to concentrate and ripen evenly under ideal conditions. The resulting wines were harvested at lower alcohol levels than the hot vintages on either side of 2014, with naturally high acidity and the mineral precision that the Cote de Nuits produces in its finest cooler years. Wine Spectator rated the 2014 Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru 95 points Classic, describing wines with juicy cherry and berry flavors, freshness and tension, and lower alcohol that in the best examples added depth and energy. For Les Cras, the cool season amplified the climat's natural saline-mineral character while the late-August warmth ensured full phenolic ripeness in the fruit.
About Domaine G. Roumier
Domaine G. Roumier, led by Christophe Roumier since 1990 and bearing the full name Domaine Georges et Christophe Roumier, is Chambolle-Musigny's defining estate and among Burgundy's most allocated producers. For premier cru wines like Les Cras, Roumier employs a higher proportion of whole clusters in fermentation than for the village-level wines, typically 50 to 70 percent, contributing the additional structural complexity and savory aromatic depth that distinguishes the premier crus within the range. The estate's 16 to 18 months of elevage in a mix of old and new oak is calibrated to preserve the individual terroir identity of each parcel. Les Cras, a chalky, iodine-laced lieu-dit just below Bonnes-Mares, is considered among the most distinctive wines in the Roumier range: not the most powerful or prestigious, but the purest expression of the estate's commitment to translating place into glass with minimal interference.
From the cellar: pair with
Roasted guinea fowl with morel mushrooms
The wine's crystalline acidity and saline minerality cut through butter-basted guinea fowl precisely; the earthy morel echoes Les Cras's forest-floor terroir dimension without overwhelming the wine's inherent delicacy.
Poached turbot with beurre blanc
The 2014's laser-precise acid drive and saline mineral finish mirror the ocean character of fine flatfish; the wine's light body prevents it from overwhelming the delicate flesh.
Roast quail with cherry and thyme jus
The wine's prominent red cherry fruit and dried rose petal aromatics find a direct echo in cherry jus, while the acid-driven, restrained-tannin profile of the 2014 handles the quail's mild flavor without any risk of bitterness.
Service & cellaring
- Serving Temp
- 59-61F (15-16C)
- Decanting
- Decant 60 to 90 minutes in 2026. The 2014's crystalline acidity and chalky tannin structure benefit from more aeration than richer vintages; the saline mineral complexity unfurls beautifully with time in a wide-bowl decanter.
- Cellar Storage
- 55F (13C), 60-70% humidity, bottle on its side.
The drinking window on this bottle is calculated with the Cellared Ageability Index (CAI) v1.0, a 10-factor model. Try the free drinking window calculator on any wine, or read when to drink wine for the practical signals.
More from Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru
Frequently Asked
When is the Roumier Les Cras 2014 at its best?
The Les Cras 2014 entered its drinking window in 2017 and has been at peak since. In 2026 it sits at year nine of a 19-year prime window running through 2036, with the mid-peak timing representing a beautiful integration of primary red cherry fruit, saline minerality, and early secondary complexity. The 2014 vintage ages slowly due to its naturally high acidity and restrained extraction, and there is no urgency to drink this wine immediately. Bottles held through 2030 will continue to reward with increasing aromatic complexity and depth.
Does the Roumier Les Cras 2014 need decanting?
Allow 60 to 90 minutes in a wide-bowl decanter when opening in 2026. The 2014 vintage's high acidity and chalky tannin structure benefit from more aeration than the richer 2018 or 2019 Les Cras would need; the wine's crystalline aromatics unfurl beautifully with time in the decanter, revealing the full saline, mineral complexity of the Cras terroir. Serve at 59 to 61 degrees Fahrenheit for the cleanest expression of the vintage's bright acid character.
What foods pair best with this wine?
The 2014 Les Cras's crystalline acidity, saline minerality, and lower-than-average alcohol make it unusually versatile for a grand cru-quality Burgundy. It works beautifully with delicate preparations: roasted guinea fowl, quail, turbot, or poached langoustine all showcase the wine's precision without overwhelming it. Earthy preparations with morels or truffles resonate with the wine's mineral terroir signature. Avoid very rich or heavily sauced dishes that would overwhelm the 2014's inherent delicacy and precision.
How should I cellar this wine, and what alternatives should I consider?
Store at 55 degrees Fahrenheit, 60 to 70 percent humidity, bottle horizontal. The 2014 vintage ages exceptionally gracefully, and bottles stored correctly will remain in prime window through 2036. For a direct vintage comparison, the Roumier Les Cras 2017 (on Cellared) offers a richer, more expansive expression of the same climat in a warmer year with the same iodine-mineral signature. The recently published Roumier Chambolle-Musigny 2019 village wine provides a complementary look at the same estate's house style at a lower price point.
How does Les Cras compare to Roumier's Bonnes-Mares?
Les Cras is a premier cru that sits geographically and stylistically just below Bonnes-Mares in the Roumier range. Bonnes-Mares delivers more weight, grip, and aging potential; Les Cras offers more of the delicate Chambolle character: floral, saline, crystalline. In the 2014 vintage specifically, Les Cras's cooler-vintage precision arguably outshines what Bonnes-Mares delivered that year, making the 2014 Les Cras one of the stronger arguments for premier cru over grand cru pricing in difficult years. Both share the same chalk-and-iodine mineral signature that is the Roumier estate's most distinctive calling card.