2016 Vosne Romanee

Cuvée #1 (done in an earthenware jar; finished its malolactic fermentation in the fall of 2017): Modestly saturated medium red. Aromas of raspberry, coffee, mocha and spices, plus hints of rose petal and licorice. Good inner-mouth aromatic lift to the flavors of red berries and saline minerality. Finishes firmly tannic and a touch dry. Cuvée #2 (tasted from barrel): Healthy dark red. Aromas of plum, raspberry, black cherry, licorice and violet. Tightly wound, leanish wine, showing more salty than sweet character. Ultimately less tough than the first sample but the saline mineral-tinged finish still reveals slightly drying tannins. Cuvée #3 (done in a cylindrical upright wood cask called a tonneau menhir ): Fresh medium red. Ripe black cherry and violet aromas accented by pepper and spice notes. Densely packed and more powerful than the first two samples but showing a similar element of saline minerality. My score is only a rough assessment of the quality of the raw material here, as Forey is likely to bottle these three cuvées separately.