Overall, production at Jadot in 2016 is off 50% from a full harvest. Harvesting for the Côte d’Or wines began on 27 September. As is standard at Jadot, virtually all wines were made entirely with destemmed fruit. Malolactic fermentations were late, some finishing only in August.
The order of the wines below and in coming reviews of Jadot’s 2016s is that in which I tasted them, which is dictated at Jadot by location of the barrels, as the cellar is so large.
Because of the losses due to frost, you may have more trouble than usual locating a specific Beaune vineyard, but the good news is that the quality is very high here across the board.
2016 Beaune 1er Cru Theurons (Domaine des Héritiers Louis Jadot)
This wine is open with black cherry aromas and flavors, medium-weight on the palate, a smooth texture, and good purity and freshness. Note that this wine is from the Domaine des Héritiers Louis Jadot; Jadot also makes a Beaune-Theurons from Domaine Gagey. (89-93)
2016 Beaune 1er Cru Bressandes (Domaine Héritiers Louis Jadot)
The Beaune-Bressandes is more structured than the Theurons and features earthy dark fruit. (89-92)
2016 Beaune 1er Cru Grèves (Domaine Gagey)
The Beaune-Grèves has violet aromas. The mouth is light, pure, and fresh with dark fruits. (90-94)
2016 Beaune 1er Cru Clos des Couchereaux (Domaine des Héritiers Louis Jadot)
This wine has minerality to go with its pure dark fruits, and it is smooth and fresh. (90-93)
2016 Beaune 1er Cr Les Avaux (Domaine Louis Jadot)
Jadot’s Beaune-Avaux has minerality, lightness, purity, and freshness to go with its dark fruits. It is quite elegant for a Beaune-Avaux. (91-94)
2016 Beaune 1er Cru Vignes Franches (Domaine Louis Jadot)
The Beaune-Vignes Franches has dark fruits and is earthier and denser than the Beaune-Avaux, although not as open at this time. (89-92)
2016 Beaune 1er Cru Boucherottes (Domaine Gagey)
This wine is mineral and smooth with earthy dark fruits, finesse, and a medium-light body. (90-93)
2016 Beaune 1er Cru Clos des Ursules (Domaine des Héritiers Louis Jadot)
A Jadot flagship, the Beaune-Clos des Ursules features a floral nose, followed by a lean, wiry, penetrating body with licorice and dark fruits. As usual, this is a wine for the long haul. (91-95)
2016 Beaune 1er Cru Aux Cras (Domaine Gagey)
The Beaune-Cras is stony and austere in the nose. The mouth is medium-light with good structure, penetration, and finesse. (91-95)
2016 Beaune 1er Cru Chouacheux (Domaine Gagey)
As with the Beaune-Theurons, there is more than one bottling of Beaune-Couacheux. This one is from Domaine Gagey; there is another from the Domaine des Héritiers Louis Jadot that I did not taste. This wine has floral aromas and redder fruits than the Cras with minerality and less obvious tannins. (90-93)
2016 Beaune 1er Cru Aigrots (Domaine Gagey)
Finally, the Beaune-Aigrots is pure with dark berry fruit and greater richness than the Chouacheux. (91-94)