Tasted in Vosne-Romanée with Charles Lachaux, 3rd December, 2014.
"In terms of yields we had everything in 2013 – up and down depending on the parcel. We've been growing grass between the rows for 15 years and I'm sure that this reduced the average size of the grapes a little as it makes for competition for the water. We actually dropped a little fruit also in August to keep correct yields.
Raised in 2 year-old barrels and vinified with 70% whole clusters.
Pretty red fruit that's fresh and ripe. This shows very good density – fine texture too. A fine start!
Tasted from new barrel, the final assembly will see only 20% though.
Deep colour. The nose is also deep – and spicy, though not obviously oaky. There is a little oak texture though but really fine flavour development too. The flavour seems to tail-off quite quickly but then holds a more discreet but very long note.
The vines are on the limit of the Vosne appellation – move a little further and they would be Clos de Vougeot!
A higher-toned, more floral aromatic – really a picture-perfect Vosne. Super texture and very fine fruit, whole cluster complexity in the mid-palate and just a little oak in the finish. Excellent!
From 60 year-old vines under Les Cailles – lots of millerandes here. 40 whole cluster and 25% new oak.
Darker and deeper fruit. Fine tannin, muscular and fresh, with cool fruit and a lovely complexity with a hint of both flowers and salt. A really tasty wine – super!
30% new oak and 40% whole cluster.
The nose delivers a width of complex if more modest depth. Wide in the mouth too – plenty of extra flavour dimension and clearly longer finishing. Nice.
50% whole cluster and 50% new oak – this was a very late-finishing malo, so it's not yet been sulfured.
Much more aromatic depth. The oak texture is more forward but it's buffered with very juicy fruit – lovely, lovely mid-palate dimension here. Super!
Again, 50% whole clusters and 50% new oak.
Here is just a little reduction but with fine, high-toned aromas behind. Lovely, lovely fruit – fresh but deep and ripe too – lovely depth. Lovely length too – this is a beauty!
100% whole clusters in the fermentation and 80% new oak elevage.
70% wholes clusters and 80% new wood.
A very fine and mineral nose with fine ripe fruit too – overall a gorgeous aromatic complexity. In the mouth too, this is fresh and dynamic, complex and elegant. Another beauty!
From les Rouges du Bas. 60% whole cluster and 80% new wood.
Aromatic width and an obvious Vosne-spice. Vibrant and complex – no fat – a wine of energy and modest tannic grip. The finish is different – here there is shape. Really super!
Picked the same day as the domaine's RSV, only 50% whole cluster and 80% new oak.
Here is a more modest aromatic, yet it appears concentrated and faintly spiced. A bigger shape in the mouth yet still without obvious fat – just a faint padding.This is long and complex yet very discrete today. Just a little ok in the finish.
This nose has more depth and of darker fruit too – only slowly des it add complexity in the glass. Wide, sitting beautifully on the palate – indeed washing over the palate – there's a floral complexity too. It changes again after the mid-palate – it's extra-long. This is not 'more' wine, it is an 'extra' wine. Brilliant.
Deep dark fruit with some roast aspects – lots of aromatic power. Wide and concentrated with a faint underpinning of tannin texture. This is a big, but slightly tight wine – we will have to wait for delicacy – but there's a slowly growing floral note that augers well.
A faint pyrazine note. Round and friendly in the mouth with very good complexity and a pretty floral finish.
A brighter and more floral nose. Mouth-filling and with more intensity. Lovely length. Super!
Blind – I got got the vintage.
A more mature nose with some leaf, complexity and spice. Very good acidity and a narrower delivery but of beautiful fruit – lots of tannin still.
Blind – I had no guess – it was the much younger fruit aroma that caught me. Re-reading my note, it seems obvious now!
A deep, concentrated and faintly spiced nose of young fruit, with similar acidity and tannin expression to the last wine. Direct, intense and with some complexity and a little salt too.