2016 Vosne Romanee Les Chaumes

(this vines date back to 1946; 20% vendange entier ): Bright red with ruby tones. Ripe aromas of black raspberry, mocha, chocolate and licorice. A step up in sweetness and structure from the estate's village wines, offering noteworthy precision and verve to its ripe but fresh flavors of dark berries, minerals and chocolate. Finishes dry and classic, with lingering floral lift. Here one clearly sees the energizing effect of vinification with whole clusters.

The 2016 Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Les Chaumes was more closed on the nose that it peers—there is a brooding intensity about this Les Chaumes, almost saturnine, as if it will need four or five years to open. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy dark berry fruit laced with balsamic and bay leaf, the oak a little vocal toward the latter half, although that will integrate with time. One to watch.

At the bottom of La Tâche, on the upper part. Above the geological fault with a bit of limestone. About 20% whole bunch. 100% new oak. Barrel sample. Deep purplish crimson. Very intense, complex nose. Very big, broad and ripe mulberry flavours. Textured, fresh tannins. Tastes purple somehow. Only medium bodied and really racy. He’s a fan of slight bitterness on the finish but it’s very slight. Lots of freshness and liveliness but still very intense. (JR)