(Originally published December 2017)
Maxime Cheurlin said that losses overall were 40% from a full harvest. There was little triage, but many passes in the vineyards that froze were required.
Maxime Cheurlin said that losses overall were 40% from a full harvest. There was little triage, but many passes in the vineyards that froze were required.
All grapes were destemmed. Malolactic fermentations were late, and indeed, some still had not finished when I visited on 31 October; I tasted those near the end of their malos, but others I did not. Additionally, four appellations were not made in 2016 because of damage from the frost.
2016 Bourgogne-Hautes Côtes de Nuits Pinot Noir
Made from purchased grapes, this wine shows spicy red fruits in a medium-weight body. The label is Maxime Cheurlin-Noëllat. (86-90)
2016 Côte de Nuits-Villages
From a vineyard in Comblanchien, the southern edge of the Côte de Nuits, this wine is stony in the nose. The mouth shows dark plum fruit and good tannins. One can drink this delicious wine already. (87-91)
2016 Nuits-Saint-Georges
Not all the malos had finished for this wine. It shows dark and red fruits, round tannins, a smooth texture, and a medium-weight body, although the wine is light on the palate. (87-91)
2016 Vosne-Romanée
The malolactic fermentations had not finished yet for this wine. It is spicy and silky with dark fruits. (88-92)
2016 Beaune 1er Cru Clos de la Mignotte
This rarely-seen premier cru is in the south-central part of the Beaune vineyards. It displays dark fruits, sturdy Pommard-llike tannins, and good depth. The vines here are about 50 years-old. (89-92)
2016 Gevrey-Chambertin Aux Echeseaux
This Gevrey has mineral dark fruit with good purity and energy. The malolactic fermentation had not finished when I tasted the wine. The wine is from a respected lieu-dit on the border of Morey-Saint-Denis and just below Mazoyères-Chambertin. (89-92)
2016 Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Les Chaumes
Noëllat’s Vosne-Chaumes is smooth, silky, and long with dark plum fruit and some minerality. The plot is at the northern end of the vineyard, just below La Tâche. (89-93)
2016 Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Fonteney
This wine is nervy and pure with penetrating dark fruit and great energy and race. Old vines here. (91-94)
2016 Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru Aux Boudots
The velvet texture of Boudots is evident here, and the wine is deep, pure, dense, and energetic. The malolactic fermentation was not complete at the time of tasting. (91-95)
2016 Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Les Petits Monts
The Petits Monts has pure red fruits. This excellent wine is racy, nervy, and light on the palate. The wine had finished malolactic fermentation shortly before I tasted. (91-95)
2016 Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Les Beaux Monts
The Vosne-Beaux Monts was easier to taste than many here, as the malolactic fermentation finished in spring. Typical mineral and violet notes here to go with fruit and elegance. The wine is raised entirely in new oak that has been well-digested. (92-95)
2016 Grands-Échézeaux
Here we have a major step up with a wine that is very dense in its dark fruit and fresh, long, and concentrated. But yield was only 20-30% of a full vintage. (94-97)