2017 Richebourg

The 2017 Richebourg Grand Cru has a much more expressive and open bouquet compared directly with the Cros Parantoux: red berry fruit, undergrowth, crushed stone, tobacco and plenty of ground pebbles here. This is wonderfully detailed. The medium-bodied palate delivers fine-grained tannin. Not as deep as other vintages of Richebourg that I have encountered from the domaine , being lighter on its feet, yet it still displays good grip and a hint of graphite that lingers on the finish. Excellent.

(Don't Miss!)<br /> This too is firmly reduced though the supporting wood is less visible. There is impressive intensity to the equally sleek big-bodied flavors that possess a gorgeous mouthfeel thanks once again to the plentiful sappy dry extract that coats the mouth on the hugely long and impeccably well-balanced finale. Like the Cros, this very stylish and classy effort will also need to develop better depth though the underlying material is present for that to occur.

The 2017 Richebourg Grand Cru is also showing very well, bursting with aromas of plummy fruit, sweet spices, grilled squab, orange rind, dark chocolate and rose petals. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied, ample and layered, with an expansive attack, good depth at the core and fine-boned structuring tannins, concluding with a long, fragrant finish. It will be exciting to revisit from bottle.