2011 Criots Batard Montrachet

Henri Boillot's 2011 Criots-Bâtard-Montrachet has all the grace of a ballerina. Intensely sweet, honeyed layers of perfumed fruit flow effortlessly across the palate. The Criots boasts gorgeous inner richness and fragrance, but no sense of heaviness at all. This is a dazzling effort.

Henri Boillot’s 2011 Criots-Batard-Montrachet has all the grace of a ballerina. Intensely sweet, honeyed layers of perfumed fruit flow effortlessly across the palate. The Criots boasts gorgeous inner richness and fragrance, but no sense of heaviness at all. This is a dazzling effort. Anticipated maturity: 2014+. (Not yet released) Henri Boillot recently finished his move to a new modern cellar in Champ Lins, one of the industrial sections of Meursault. Boillot describes his 2011s as having a bit more richness and better balance of fruit and acidity than the 2010s. Based on what I tasted, it’s hard to argue that point. Boillot seems to be one case where the 2011s have the potential to be better across the board than the 2010s. As is often the case here, the village wines are particularly strong. Importers: Massanois Imports, Washington, DC; tel. (202) 470-6769, Cynthia Hurley French Wines, West Newton, MA Tel 617-965-4251 www.cynthiahurley.com and Chelsea Ventures, LLC, 1601 South Canal St, Chicago, IL 60616 tel. 847-920-5052

This is notably riper than the Caillerets with overtly exotic dried yellow fruit, spice and floral aromas. There is outstanding richness to the powerful and broad-shouldered flavors that possess a distinctly muscular mouth feel before culminating in an opulent, clean and very dry finish. This retains a fine sense of balance and while there is certainly fine complexity, it isn't at the same level as displayed by the other grands crus in the range. Jun 2011, www.burghound.com, Drink: 2019+