2013 Bienvenues Batard Montrachet
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The 2013 Bienvenues-Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru has a beautiful nose with honeysuckle, yellow plum, jasmine and popcorn scents that burst from the glass. This is one of the most beguiling aromatics I have encountered while revisiting the 2013 vintage. The palate is well balanced with a saline entry, crisp and taut with touches of orange pith, ginger and almond on the finish. There is a sense of composure to this Bienvenue that I appreciate - an excellent wine.
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Neal Martin
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
Tasted blind at the annual “Burgfest” tasting in Bouilland. The 2013 Bienvenue Bâtard Montrachet Grand Cru has a more expressive bouquet than Jean-Claude Bachelet's with greater delineation and poise, scents of orange sorbet and spice coming through with time. The palate is fresh on the entry, a powerful and flavor-rich Bienvenue with a citrus-fresh and quite spicy finish. While there might be a touch of botrytis here, it does not obscure precision and elevates this Grand Cru to a higher level. Tasted May 2016.
Bright medium yellow with a green tinge. Very ripe aromas of peach and nutty oak. Not hugely complex in the mouth, offering very ripe flavors of peach and nut oils. Can't quite match the 2014 version for class or depth. "Bienvenue is less interesting in the thinner vintages like 2013," notes enologist Germain, adding that Batard is normally favored in the cooler years. Finishes spicy but could use a bit more thrust and lift.
(malo just finished but not yet sulfited; 13.2% natural alcohol): Medium yellow. Very ripe aromas of peach, candied citrus peel, lime leaf and flinty minerality, along with a brioche note that reminded me of Champagne. Sweet and plush but with excellent acidity framing the very ripe apple and peach flavors. Finishes surprisingly austere and a bit phenolic, with superb palate-staining length. Still showing a faint malic quality.