(Originally published February 2018)
Drouhin has put together here an attractive set of reds that should drink well young, yet also have the capacity for at least medium-term aging.
2016 Côte de Nuits-Villages
This wine has floral red cherry aromas. The red cherries continue on the palate with some dark fruits, and the body is round and juicy. Harvested 26 September - 4 October. No whole clusters. (87-91)
2016 Chambolle-Musigny
Chambolle was the Côte de Nuits village probably hardest hit by the frost, but the wines from the grapes that survived have been excellent, and that’s the case here, too. The wine is saline with dark fruits, intensity, but also elegance and length. Harvested 2-4 October. 10% whole clusters. (91-94)
2016 Vosne-Romanée
The Vosne is sensual and smooth with dark fruits, and it shows good length. There is some premier cru fruit from Chaumes in this wine. Harvested 30 September - 3 October. No whole clusters. (89-92)
2016 Gevrey-Chambertin
The Gevrey has stony aromas. The mouth shows red fruits with some of the wildness of Gevrey. There’s some juiciness to the texture and the tannins are of high quality. The wine contains about 15-25% grapes from premier cru vineyards. Harvested 3-4 October. No whole clusters. (89-92)
2016 Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru Procès
The Nuits-Procès has spicy dark and red fruit, a medium-weight body, length, purity, and penetration. Harvested 30 September. 10% whole clusters. (91-95)
2016 Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru
The Chambolle 1er Cru has dark fruit, lightness, airiness, a silky texture, length, and purity. It’s a lovely example fulfilling expectations of Chambolle at a very high level of quality. Harvested 28-29 September. 15% whole clusters. (92-95)
2016 Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Clos Prieur
Made from purchased fruit, this wine has mineral dark fruit aromas and flavors with intensity, purity, and a smooth texture. Harvested 4 October. 10% whole clusters. (91-94)
2016 Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Cazetiers
Also a négociant wine, the Gevrey-Cazetiers has reduced aromas, followed in the mouth by round, dark fruit and mineral flavors, a smooth texture, depth, and length. Harvested 4 October. No whole clusters. (91-94)
2016 Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Petits Monts
From a prime slice of the vineyard just above Richebourg, the wine is mineral and long in the nose with great purity. The mouth shows red and dark fruits with exceptional elegance, lightness, and minerality. Harvested 30 September. 30% whole clusters. (93-96)
2016 Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru Amoureuses
The Amoureuses is dense and concentrated, yet light on the palate with dark fruit. At this tasting, it is quite closed compared to the other wines, but the core of an outstanding wine is evident. Harvested 29 September. 30% whole clusters. (93-96)