2014 Bonnes Mares

The Bonnes Mares is showing a darker side of the Chambolle terroirs – but is nevertheless also very charming and juicy. In the nose red and dark berry fruit – notes of raspberries, blueberries, dark cherries and underbrush. On the palate layers of cool and refined fruit – juicy and quite zappy – with a lovely energy. The minerality is more earthy and less expressive than in the other wines, but this Bonnes Mares offer a lovely nerve and tension. A lovely Bonnes Mares in the making. Nov 2015, www.winehog.org, Drink: 2028+

The 2015 Bonnes Mares Grand Cru is really blossoming now that the wine is safely in bottle. It has a gorgeous, floral bouquet with scents of blueberry, blackberry and briary, wonderful mineral expression here with a palpable sense of energy and precision. The palate is medium-bodied with very fine tannin, what you might call a "cool" Bonnes Mares, sleek and sensual with very fine tension towards the red cherry and kirsch tinged finish. What a gorgeous Bonnes-Mares, though I would be inclined to afford it several years in bottle. Tasted November 2016. Jun 2017, www.robertparker.com

Bright, dark red with ruby highlights. Brooding aromas of blueberry, blackberry, cassis, licorice, menthol and black pepper, plus a touch of bitter chocolate; compared to the wines of Roumier and Arnoux that I tasted earlier the same day, these wines struck me as more Cabernet-like in their black fruit and licorice character, and yet this is the only set of the three made entirely from destemmed fruit. Powerful, gripping wine with strong acidity framing the classically dry flavors of dark berries, minerals, flowers, bitter chocolate and leather. Finishes saline and long, with a firm tannic spine. Showing the serious side of the vintage. Jan 2016, www.vinous.com