Technical director Brian Sieve said that people who had balance in 2017 didn’t have hard frost in 2016; those with hard frost, had copious quantities. The reds here weren’t hit super hard in 2016. Is that a partial explanation for the brilliant quality of these wines?
Malo-lactic fermentations finished in July and August.
2017 Beaune 1er cru Grèves
Crisp red cherry aromas. Red cherry, firm, crisp, pure, medium-weight. One-third whole cluster, racked in early October. 30% new oak. (91-93)
2017 Volnay 1er Cru Carelles
Floral, vegetal (positive) nose. Red currant on palate, medium-weight, pure, focused, crisp. 85 year-old vines. 1/3 whole cluster, 25% new oak. (91-93)
2017 Volnay 1er Cru Mitans
Cherry, raspberry fruit, the relative plumpness of Mitans, round, smooth, approachable. Good freshness. 100% whole cluster, 1/3 new oak. (91-94)
2017 Volnay 1er Cru Champans
Champans fleshiness, good minerality, finesse atypical for Champans, red fruits, some tannins. 50% whole cluster. (92-94)
2017 Volnay 1er Cru Taillepieds
Intense, focused, mineral nose with red cherries, red currants. Good concentration, intensity, red cherry and currant, minerality. Good structure, freshness. 100% whole cluster, 30% new oak. (93-95)
2017 Pommard 1er Cru Pézerolles
Intense nose and mouth, cassis and strawberry, energetic, fresh, medium light, long. 33% whole clusters. (93-95)
2017 Pommard 1er Cru Grands-Epenots
Strong minerality in nose. Red cherry, mineral in mouth, medium-weight, some structure, but being Grands-Epenots, not too much. Replanted in 1986. 1/3 whole cluster. (92-94)
2017 Pommard 1er Cru Rugiens-Bas
Rugiens iron nose. Intense, structured, sweetness from red cherry fruit. Power with finesse, good structure, precision, fine acidity. 2/3 whole cluster. (94-96)
2017 Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru Aux Thorey
More structure, creamy red cherry and raspberry fruit; fresh, elegant for Nuits. 2/3 whole cluster, 40% new oak. (92-95)
2017 Corton-Clos du Roi
Floral nose. Intense, powerful, relatively big in mouth. Mineral red fruits — raspberries, red cherries. Round tannins. 75 year-old vines. 2/3 whole cluster, 50% new oak. (93-95)
2017 Clos-Vougeot
Dense, black and red raspberry fruit, intense, powerful, but not rustic. One of the best Clos-Vougeots of the vintage. Good freshness. Vines located between the two major buildings in the Clos. 1/3 whole cluster. 60-65 year old vines, on average. (94-96)
2017 Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Malconsorts
Dark fruit, minerality, lighter, airier than Clos-Vougeot, medium-light on palate, very fresh. Tannins, but not intrusive. Very different in style from Clos-Vougeot. 100% whole cluster, 50% new oak. (94-96)
2017 Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Malconsorts cuvée Christianne
Intense, pure, precise, deep strawberry fruit, good tannins. Energetic, fresh, tightly wound. 100% whole cluster, 55% new oak. (95-97)