2017 Beaune Greves
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The 2017 Beaune Grèves 1er Cru is drinking beautifully, especially if you covet young, vibrant Pinot. With glistening red cherries and cranberry fruit on the nose, the aromatics have a spring in their step, wonderfully defined with engaging purity. The palate follows similarly with edgy tannins, a brisk line of acidity and vibrant, tart red fruit on the finish. Delicious. Tasted at Resources restaurant in Bordeaux.
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Julia Harding MW, jancisrobinson.com
Neal Martin
More reviews and scores
The 2017 Beaune Grèves 1er Cru comes from a single parcel of 96-year old vines, the oldest that the Lafarge family owns. It has a well defined, slightly gravelly bouquet that is not as immediate or as sensual as the Clos des Aigrots at the moment. This is more surly. The palate exhibits more brightness, quite lucid in fact, with fine tannin, fleshy red cherry and strawberry fruit, not a deep or powerful Beaune but velvety smooth towards the finish. The seductive quality to this wine is stacked towards the back end, but it leaves you wanting another sip as soon as possible.
From the domaine's oldest vines, the 2017 Beaune 1er Cru Les Grèves exhibits notes of cherries, spices and citrus peel. On the palate, it's medium to full-bodied, deep and complete, with more concentration than the Clos des Aigrots and a more muscular chassis of fine-grained tannins, concluding with a long finish.
Barrel sample of final blend. 96-year-old vines – their oldest. A quarter has been pulled out because of the effects of the 2012 hail and planted in 2017 with mass selection from the domaine. In the fallow time it was planted with 30 different species to restore health to and aerate the soil. They will blend the two eventually. 15% new oak. Intoxicating cherry fruit on the nose. Sweet and ripe. Deep and rich in the mouth. Concentration and complexity – so typically old vine in its apparently effortless intensity. Firm and more savoury on the palate, rounded but structured. Wonderful. (JH)