Harvesting here began on 24 September. Overall, the estate suffered a loss of 30% from a normal harvest, reported Charles van Canneyt. In this vintage, he destemmed all the grapes because of the unevenness of the stem ripeness. The grapes, though, were very healthy, he continued, and there was almost no chaptalization for the wines. The village wines see about 20% new oak, the premiers crus 30-40%, and the grands crus 50%.
This is another in a string of very fine vintages under Charles. The terroirs really show through here.
2016 Bourgogne Pinot Noir
This wine has an earthy Pinot nose. The mouth is mineral with strawberry and red currant fruit and good liveliness. (87-90)
2016 Chambolle-Musigny
Here we have mineral red cherry fruit in a round and medium-light body. (88-91)
2016 Vosne-Romanée
The village Vosne features red cherry fruit that is long and layered with a touch of creaminess in the body. (90-93)
2016 Nuits-Saint-Georges Les Bas de Combes
Bas de Combes is an excellently-sited village vineyard — downslope from the outstanding Boudots vineyard, abutting Vosne-Chaumes to the north, and with the very good Vosne-Romanée “Aux Réas” lieu-dit to the west. The proximity to Vosne comes through in the spiciness in the nose and mouth. The wine features dark fruits, elegance, and some good energy. (90-93)
2016 Vougeot 1er Cru Les Petits Vougeot
The Petits Vougeot is dense and smooth with dark berry fruit. It is less advanced at this stage than the previous wines. (89-93)
2016 Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru Les Murgers
The nose here is stony and mineral. The mouth shows good structure with depth to the red fruits, length, and complexity. (91-95)
2016 Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru Les Charmes
The Charmes is sensual with dark fruits and good depth. (91-94)
2016 Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Les Beaumonts
Classic Beaumonts violet aromas and flavors are accompanied by minerality and good energy in the mouth. This should make a very fine bottle. (92-95)
2016 Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Les Suchots
As good as the Beaumonts is, the Suchots may be even better. The nose is perfumed and floral. The mouth is intense, balanced, and nervy with some minerailty and good depth and length. It is an exciting wine. (92-96)
2016 Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Les Malconsorts
The beautiful nose here is all perfume. The mouth is mineral and deep with finesse, especially for Malconsorts, and quality tannins. (92-96)
2016 Clos-de-Vougeot
The estate’s vines are in the upper part of the Clos and suffered considerably from the frost. The mouth shows good concentration to go with typical black raspberry fruit. the wine is deep, long, and powerful. (93-96)
2016 Romanée-Saint-Vivant
The RSV is sensual and smooth with dark fruit, length, and complexity — an admirable and typical wine for this vineyard. (94-97)
2016 Richebourg
It’s always fascinating to compare Richebourg and Romanée-Saint-Vivant in the same cellar. On this particular day, I had a very slight preference for the Richebourg. The wine is deep and dense with spicy dark fruit and more power than the RSV, but with lightness on the palate. (94-98)