(Originally published February 2018)
Like most producers on the Côte de Beaune, the frost sharply cut back production for many of the vineyards, as discussed below.
Like most producers on the Côte de Beaune, the frost sharply cut back production for many of the vineyards, as discussed below.
2016 Beaune 1er Cru Clos de la Féguine
This is a medium-weight wine with mineral red fruits and a touch of creaminess to the texture. No problems here, but nothing really stands out. No frost damage for the vineyard. No whole clusters, 30% new oak, harvested on 23 September. 0.5º chaptalization, late malolactic fermentation. (88-91)
2016 Beaune 1er Cru Grèves
The Beaune-Grèves has a creamy texture with red currant and cassis fruit, length, and good freshness. Production here was "small, but not catastrophic.” Harvested 20 September. No whole clusters, 25% new oak. (88-91)
2016 Beaune 1er Cru Champ Pimont
The Beaune-Champ Pimont features cassis aromas and flavors. It is a medium-weight wine with some creaminess, good length and acidity, a touch of spice, and ripe tannins. Harvested 21 September, 50% whole clusters. (89-92)
2016 Meursault Clos de Mazeray
This wine has spiced, vanilla aromas (production was only two barrels, due to the frost; one barrel is new, the other is one year-old). The mouth shows spicy cassis and red currant flavors with some dark chocolate on the finish. The tannins here are harder than for the Beaunes, there’s a creamy texture, the wine is medium-light in weight with good length. Harvested on 21 September. (88-92)
2016 Pommard 1er Cru Charmots
The Charmots comes from some small parcels that Prieur bought a few years ago. The wine is medium-light in weight with spicy red fruits, a creamy texture, and good energy and length. Harvested 26 September, 100% whole clusters, 12.5º natural alcohol. (88-92)
2016 Volnay 1er Cru Santenots
Prieur's Volnay-Santenots is saline with red fruits, some minerality, and some floral aspects. The wine shows good length, elegance, energy, and structure. Harvested 22 September, about 20% new oak. The vines largely escaped the frost. (88-91)
2016 Volnay 1er Cru Clos des Santenots
Here, the nose is spicy. The mouth is creamy with dark fruits that have good intensity, spices, some chocolate overtones, and some tannins. Harvested 26 September, a small amount of whole clusters, and 40% new oak. (88-91)