(Please see my overview of the 2018 vintage here.)
2018 was the larges harvest in Anne Gros’ career. Harvesting began on 4 September. No sorting of the grapes was necessary. As usual, all grapes were destemmed. Malo-lactic fermentations were quick for this estate, beginning at the end of November and finishing by Christmas. There was no chaptalization and alcohols are 12.5º for the white Bourgogne-Hautes Côtes de Nuits, 13º for the Bourgogne blanc, 12.8º for the red Bourgogne-Hautes Côtes de Nuits, 13.8º for the red Bourgogne. The only other note I have for alcohol levels in the other wines is 13º for the Chambolle-Musigny.
2018 Bourgogne-Hautes Côtes de Nuits Cuvée Marine Chardonnay
Over the years, as the vines (now 20 years-old) have been maturing, the wines from this vineyard have been becoming increasingly attractive, showing what the Hautes Côtes can do in white. The nose has stony Chardonnay aromas. The mouth is medium-weight with attractive acidity, and quite a bit of minerality and steeliness. (89-91)
2018 Bourgogne Chardonnay
This wine is broader and creamier than the Bourgogne-Hautes Côtes de Nuits, and it features lemony fruit. About 1/3 of the vines are 50 years-old, the rest are three years-old. Clay-limestone soils. (87-89)
In red:
2018 Bourgogne-Hautes Côtes de Nuits Pinot Noir
This wine is mineral with hot vintage dark fruits in the nose and mouth. It is medium-weight with a creamy texture and adequate acidity. The vines are 20 years-old and in this vineyard, the drought held back the yield. (85-87)
2018 Bourgogne Pinot Noir
The Bourgogne has an attractive, perfumed nose featuring violets. The mouth is smooth and round with violets, medium-weight, and good density. (87-89)
2018 Chambolle-Musigny Combe d’Orveau
With lavender aromas and a medium-full body that features ripe red and dark fruits, this is an atypical wine for Chambolle for its ripeness and fullness. Nevertheless, it is attractive. The lavender reappears on the finish and there is very good length here. About 13º alcohol. (88-90)
2018 Vosne-Romanée Les Barreaux
Les Barreaux is situated just above Richebourg and Cros Parantoux, so it is at altitude, but in a hot year such as 2018, that can be an advantage. The wine shows very attractive spiced red fruit aromas. The mouth is dense, pure, and focused with dark fruits, penetration, freshness, spices, and structure. (90-93)
2018 Echézeaux Les Loachausses
The nose shows some spicy fruits, but not the precision of a still better wine. The mouth is impressive with dense, spicy, sensual dark fruits and minerality. The wine has a velvet texture and good complexity and there’s some tannin on the finish. (92-94)
2018 Clos-Vougeot Le Grand Maupertui
The nose here features typical spicy black raspberry aromas. The mouth shows deep black raspberry fruit with density but also overall finesse for Clos-Vougeot. Good length here. (93-95)
2018 Richebourg
Last, the Richebourg shows great complexity with spice, leather, blackberries, and red and black raspberries. There’s great freshness here and the exoticism of Richebourg. This is a very fine vintage for Richebourg. (94-97)