2015 Musigny

(just a single new 150-liter barrel of this wine, vinified with 50% whole clusters): Bright, dark red. Captivating aromas of raspberry, coffee, mocha and pistachio. Plush, dense and deep, conveying more saline minerality and deep soil tones than primary dark fruits in the early going. But this wine boasts compelling sweetness and finishes with dusty, thoroughly ripe tannins and outstanding length. (Incidentally, Faiveley will actually have two different bottlings of Musigny from the 2015 vintage as they purchased a tiny parcel of vines from the Dufouleur family just after the harvest of 2015. The new wine will be bottled in magnums, which Faiveley plans to open in 2025 as part of the family's 200th-anniversary festivities. Beginning with 2016, there will be a single estate Musigny consisting of about 600 bottles.)

Faiveley made two casks of Musigny in 2015 – one from the old Faiveley plot, and one from the plot acquired from Dufouleur – just around the harvest. I tasted the Dufouleur cask – which is larger, and at this stage it’s not decided if they would be blended into one cuvee or bottled separately. The Musigny tasted offered a lovely nose with layer of red fruit – very refined and pure – a quite delicate nose with a lovely filigree display of the Musigny minerality. On the palate – same story – very refined, pure and cool .. a filigree and airy feel, with very fine length and mid-palate intensity. Not a powerhouse like the Clos de Beze or the Corton but it stood its ground in it’s own refined way. Quite impressive given that Faiveley had no opportunity to influence the viticulture .. so Dufouleur must have done a fine job. Will be interesting to see if there will be two Musigny’s from Faiveley in 2015. Jun 2016, www.winehog.org