2016 Chevalier Montrachet
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Tasting notes
(from vines planted in 1962; the estate made three barrels in place of a normal five, or about 32 hectoliters per hectare, according to Michel Coutoux): Soil-driven nose offers aromas of lemon zest, menthol and crushed-stone minerality. By far the sweetest and most concentrated of these young 2016s, with lovely fruit intensity buttressed by underlying mineral spine and harmonious acidity. Balanced and consistent from start to finish, this mineral-driven wine spreads out to dust the palate without leaving any impression of weight. The most refined of these 2016s by a wide margin, densely packed but not at all hard-edged. This wine relies on its minerality rather than its (low) acidity for vibrancy. (13.7% alcohol)
Critic scores
Average Score
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
(at 12.7%, this was the highest in potential alcohol at harvest): Bright lemon-yellow. Aromas of white peach, lemon drop, stone and anise. Conveys good mineral energy to its citrus and spice flavor. Still a bit youthfully disjointed but finishes with good length. Coutoux finds this wine a bit soft.
About the producer
From the heart of Chassagne-Montrachet, Domaine Michel Niellon embodies generations of craftsmanship and Burgundian finesse, producing elegant, terroir-driven wines from just 8 hectares.