Harvesting began on 25 September with the Clos-Vougeot and the Hautes-Côtes de Nuits red and continued to the beginning of October. The white Hautes Côtes de Nuits was harvested later than the other wines.
As usual, the grapes were entirely destemmed. Malolactic fermentations were relatively quick, finishing between February and mid-May. As with the vast majority of estates that I visited, there was at least one appellation that was not made in 2016; in this case, it was the Chambolle-Musigny “Combe d’Orveaux”.
All wines were tasted from tanks, where they were stabilizing in preparation for December bottling.
2016 Bourgogne-Hautes Côtes de Nuits rouge
These were the estate’s only vines that did not freeze in 2016. The nose and mouth show violets and cherries. The wine is medium-weight with excellent purity, precision, and freshness. (86-90)
2016 Bourgogne Pinot Noir (domaine)
This is from the estate’s patch of Bourgogne (there is also a négociant wine produced in most vintages). Loss here due to the freeze was 45%. The fruit is pure and dark and there’s more weight here than in the Hautes Côtes de Nuits, but not quite as much freshness. (86-89)
2016 Vosne-Romanée Les Barreaux
From a lieu-dit just above Cros Parantoux, Richebourg, and Brulées, this wine shows a lovely layering of dark fruit with good violets and some minerality. There’s length and elegance here, too. 50% new oak on this wine, 10% loss due to the frost. (89-93)
2016 Échézeaux Les Loachausses
The wine has a creamy texture with dark fruits and good density, but it is less developed at this point than the foregoing wines. 40% new oak, half of a normal crop. (90-94)
2016 Clos-Vougeot Le Grand Maupertuis
The wine has intense black raspberry aromas characteristic of Clos-Vougoet. The mouth is dense, creamy, fresh, and long with black raspberry fruit; it is an excellent Clos-Vougeot. Appellation limits allow 18 barrels, but in 2016 there were only 7 (2100 bottles) made here. (93-96)
2016 Richebourg
The Richebourg is deep with dark plum fruit. It’s a little reserved today, but intense and promising. (93-97)
2016 Bourgogne-Hautes Côtes de Nuits Cuvée Marine blanc
With lime on the nose and in the mouth, this wine is light in weight. It shows plenty of finesse and good length, probably better as an aperitif wine than with a substantial dish. (86-89)