2011 Vosne Romanee Beaumonts

Tasted blind at the Burgundy 2011 horizontal tasting in Beaune. The Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Les Beaumonts 2011 has an intense bouquet of strawberry pastilles, raspberry and orange blossom that is not the most complex, but offers plenty of fruit. The palate is medium-bodied with succulent, ripe raspberry and strawberry fruit, smooth in the mouth, and quite plump on the finish that only wishes to please. Not a long-term proposition perhaps, but this Vosne-Romanee will have commercial appeal. Note that it does seem to harden in the glass and reveal a green note, hence my cautious score.

The 2011 Vosne-Romanée Les Beaux Monts comes across as stern and tannic at this stage. Crushed flowers, savory herbs, menthol and licorice are some of the notes that begin to take shape in the glass. There is plenty of energy, but I am not sure the 2011 has enough fruit to fill out its frame, while the green notes are borderline distracting. This was quite a bit better in barrel.

Good bright, full red. More precise and perfumed on the nose than the village Vosne, with red berry and spice aromas complemented but not overshadowed by pepper. Tactile, juicy and perhaps deceptively open-knit, showing lovely peppery, floral lift to the sweet red berry flavors. The slowly mounting, perfumed finish features ripe tannins, palate-dusting fruits and spices and piquant mineral lift.