“The 2009 Bâtard-Montrachet (from the Puligny side) is marvelously linear, textured and just plain beautiful. All of the elements come together in this striking, impeccable wine. The Bâtard blossoms on the palate with extraordinary finesse in its fruit, fabulous overall balance and terrific freshness, especially on the finish. It is breathtaking in every way. Anticipated maturity: 2014+.”

“(from vines on the Puligny side): Quite closed on the nose, hinting at creme caramel. A step up in intensity and structure from the Bienvenue, with stone fruit and mineral flavors enlivened by bright lemony acidity. Youthfully imploded wine with terrific steely cut. Impressively taut on the long, rising finish. An excellent Bâtard that should age well.”

“A pungent array of pear, green fruit and some residual fermentation aromas makes this nose harder to read than most of the wines in the range. The suave and seductively textured flavors are quite expansive with excellent richness if not the concentration of either the Corton-Charlemagne or the Demoiselles though I do like the depth, balance and impressive length. Benefit of the doubt offered.”

“Slight nose, but marvellous force on the palate, and great linear acid with a long, long mineral finish and delicious tangy citrus fruit. ”

“Part of the domaine of the Gagey family that runs Louis Jadot, this dense, wood-dominated wine has an austere character at this stage. Ripe, potentially full of yellow and creamy white fruits, it will always have a serious side. Drink from 2018.”

“Broad nose with some damp-plaster notes. Rich start – what a contrast to Bressandes Blanc! Well balanced with lots of substance and acidity. Just a little raw still but convincing. Long.”

“Ripe, open and beautifully composed with mixed nuts, butter and tropical fruits. Expressive and approachable and fairly long on the finish. Tasted in: Burgundy, France. Maturity: Young.”

“Pale green-gold. Very sumptuous nose. Ripe and tense and gorgeous. This is more like it! Just a hint of smoke but no deliberate move to reduction. The first of these Jadot 2013 whites with a touch of creaminess. Although it is not notably persistent.”

“(this fruit comes from three sources): Bright lemon-yellow. Subdued aromas and flavors of crushed stone, menthol, lemon-lime and pear, plus a whiff of metallic minerality. Penetrating and subtle, conveying a layered texture and lovely inner-mouth perfume and lift. Shows the richness of this stony high-altitude site, which has very little topsoil. This complex, very intense wine shows strong extract without any undue weight and will need a long time to unwind.”

“Sweet start and some transparency. Really confident and beautifully balanced. Quite forward but a real charmer.”

“Pale, bright yellow. Lemon and a whiff of apple on the nose. Then concentrated and densely packed, with harmonious acidity contributing to the impression of inner-mouth floral perfume. Finishes juicy and long, with a firm edge that will require five years of cellaring. This displays the power and thrust of the vintage.”

“In contrast, Jadot’s 2010 Chassagne-Montrachet Morgeot Clos de La Chapelle, from deeper soils on the back of the Abbaye de Morgeot, possesses gorgeous depth, but it is also tightly wound and inward. Cool, saline notes dominate today, but there is more than enough fruit to allow the 2010 to develop beautifully in bottle over the coming years. The huge, textured finish leaves a lasting impression. It would be fascinating to taste both of the Jadot wines from the Abbaye de Morgeot in ten years’ time. Anticipated maturity: 2015+.”

“There is good intensity to the powerful large-scaled flavors that possess a distinct malic acid tang on the energetic finish. This seems to have the richness and mid-palate concentration to eventually stand up to the firm acid spine but for the moment, the acidity has the upper hand.”

“Very full and round, ripe and easy to love. Lots of creamy appeal. Then vitality and energy on the finish. Very nice wine, but maybe not for the very long term.”

“The 2012 Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Morgeot -Clos de la Chapelle- comes from the 2-hectare monopole that produced around 24 barrels. It has a lovely, sensual nose with apricots and cream emerging from the glass accompanied by hints of almond. The palate is well-balanced with a clean, fresh sprightly opening: citrus lemon, orange zest and apricot that feel harmonious and beautifully focused. This is a tender, intellectual Chassagne.”

“Bright, pale color. Reticent aromas of pear and smoke. Pliant, brisk and deep, with aromatic pear and spicy oak flavors nicely framed and lifted by lemony acidity. Finishes long and a bit phenolic but with an attractive racy quality. This vibrant, firmly structured wine will need at least a few years of bottle aging.”

“Heavy sulfur aromas presently dwarf the fruit and render the nose difficult to properly evaluate. There is fine density to the powerful and suave, even opulent flavors that possess good muscle and punch though the finish is markedly bitter. However I suspect that the bitterness is linked to the sulfur as the acidity does seem adequately ripe ”

“Not as expressive on the nose as the Jadot Chenevottes. A little muted but with delicate herbal notes on the palate. I don't think this would disappoint but it will take time. Appetising finish.”

“Honey, almonds, white flowers and nectarines all take shape in Jadot's 2011 Chevalier-Montrachet Les Demoiselles. Exotic white truffle, orange peel and spice notes appear later, adding dimensions of complexity and nuance to this pedigreed Burgundy. The flavors continue to blossom in all directions as the wine opens up in the glass. Simply put, the 2011 Demoiselles is a stunner.”

“(this wine was in 40% new oak during the first half of its elevage): Highly nuanced nose combines wet stone, white flowers, hazelnut juice, clove, noble herbs and a whiff of vanilla. Ripe, silky and round; the deepest and most layered of these 2011s to this point but also boasts terrific lemon-and-stone energy for a wine with such a plump, generous texture. Finishes extremely long and subtle, with a repeating hint of sexy vanillin oak. A knockout.”

“An ultra-pure and high-toned nose of wet stone, spiced pear and acacia blossom and green apple is also trimmed in just enough oak to notice. The markedly stony broad-shouldered and tautly muscular flavors possess almost painful intensity on the crystalline and explosively long finish. 2011 is a vintage where the Demoiselles is bigger than it typically is yet there is absolutely no loss of refinement or elegance.”

“The 2011 Chevalier-Montrachet Les Demoiselles puts the Batard in its place with lime flower, crushed stone, freshly sliced apricot and lemon peel that are beautifully defined. The palate is very well-balanced with a crisp seam of acidity. It is very tight in the mouth, not really wanting to play ball, unlike the nose, but there is certainly good length here. Very fine.”

“Really rather reticent on the nose. Gently creamy. But the intensity is unleashed on the palate. Pure focused, cedary citrus and terrific intensity all the way to the finish. Deep and long and impressive. (JH)”

“There is a trace of exoticism to the pungent combination of wood toast, dried yellow fruit aromas and hints of SO2. The mid-palate of the medium-bodied flavors displays plenty of concentration as well as a sleek muscularity on the very dry, linear and lingering finish where the wood suggested by the nose resurfaces. This is a robust and powerful example of the appellation that will clearly benefit from a few years of cellaring before it will drink well.”

“Actually, the acidity overrides the charm at this point. This is clearly made for the long term. It's a little more open and broad than the Tillets but it's playing its cards close to its chest. Very well judged. Drink 2015-2021??”

“The 2012 Meursault 1er Cru Les Charmes has an attractive lifted nose, a little leesy at the moment with a spicy core developing in the glass. The palate is nicely balanced with a rounded, generous, quite rich opening - very charming as the name suggest, though I would like more minerality to be in situ toward the finish.”

“Bright yellow. Less perfumed and more closed than the Champs Gain, showing a toasty nuance today. Then high-pitched and penetrating, with a fine-grained texture to the very pure pineapple and wild herb flavors. Boasts terrific energy and class, finishing with excellent length and a light touch. Extremely promising wine, yet another superb example of 2010 Folatieres.”

“The 2010 Puligny-Montrachet Folatieres is pure class and elegance. Floral aromatics lead to beautifully sculpted, delineated fruit in this impeccable, nuanced Folatieres. The 2010 impresses for its centered, poised personality and terrific overall balance. Today, the 2010 is quite closed, but it should emerge more fully over time, although it is likely to remain feminine. I look forward to checking in the 2010 in another year or two. Note: This is the Heritiers de Louis Jadot bottling that is sold in the US. There is also a Maison Jadot bottling that I did not taste. Anticipated maturity: 2015+.”

“*Outstanding* A discreet but not invisible wood nose sets off the wonderfully fresh and expressive broad-ranging notes of acacia blossom, white peach, spiced pear and wet stone aromas. The cool, clean and ultra-pure flavors exude both a fine sense of tension as well as an abundance of minerality that add lift to the explosively long and impeccably well-balanced finish. This is textbook.”

“Broad, nutty and creamy on the nose, Solid and with more a hark back to traditional white burgundy than, say, the Referts. Solid with real density, and slightly short on the finish.”

“Bright yellow. Less perfumed and more closed than the Champs Gain, showing a toasty nuance today. Then high-pitched and penetrating, with a fine-grained texture to the very pure pineapple and wild herb flavors. Boasts terrific energy and class, finishing with excellent length and a light touch. Extremely promising wine, yet another superb example of 2010 Folatieres.”

“The 2010 Puligny-Montrachet Folatieres is pure class and elegance. Floral aromatics lead to beautifully sculpted, delineated fruit in this impeccable, nuanced Folatieres. The 2010 impresses for its centered, poised personality and terrific overall balance. Today, the 2010 is quite closed, but it should emerge more fully over time, although it is likely to remain feminine. I look forward to checking in the 2010 in another year or two. Note: This is the Heritiers de Louis Jadot bottling that is sold in the US. There is also a Maison Jadot bottling that I did not taste. Anticipated maturity: 2015+.”

“*Outstanding* A discreet but not invisible wood nose sets off the wonderfully fresh and expressive broad-ranging notes of acacia blossom, white peach, spiced pear and wet stone aromas. The cool, clean and ultra-pure flavors exude both a fine sense of tension as well as an abundance of minerality that add lift to the explosively long and impeccably well-balanced finish. This is textbook.”

“Broad, nutty and creamy on the nose, Solid and with more a hark back to traditional white burgundy than, say, the Referts. Solid with real density, and slightly short on the finish.”

“The 2012 Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Folatieres comes from vines on the upper reaches of the climat, just 50-meters from Chevalier-Montrachet. It has a very refined bouquet with subtle mineral scents, smoke and some pressed flowers. The palate is well-balanced with a fine line of acidity that neatly counterbalances the rounded, rich, lightly honeyed fruit, leaving the finish voluminous and satisfying. Excellent.”

“Very lifted, 'spiny' nose. Excellent palate weight without any heaviness. Sweetness and acidity seem well married. Such a charmer with some herbal notes. Really lovely wine with great energy. Long and neat. Drink 2015 to 2021”

“This is very minerally and tangy with sliced lemon and tropical fruit character. Full body, bright acidity and a clean, long finish. Beautiful. Drink now.”

“Rich, almost sweet fruit! (Unusual.) Solid with lots to chew on. Should provide nuanced drinking eventually. Quite chewy at the moment.”

“(from 80-year-old vines; Jadot purchases juice): Bright yellow. Mirabelle and lemon aromas are accented by a minty nuance. Boasts very good juicy lift to its lemon and peach flavors but less richness and extract than the Folatieres; there was more juice in the Clos de la Garenne grapes, noted Barnier. I like the balance and the vivacity of fruit here. (There's no Pucelles in 2012 as the grower would not give up the fruit).”

“An elegantly layered and cool nose features aromas of lemon peel, white flowers and spiced pear. There is a really lovely texture to the solidly constructed and concentrated middle weight flavors that display ample minerality on the citrus-inflected and dry but not especially austere finish. The inherent class of Puligny is on display here.”

“Solid, bullseye stuff. Perhaps not as intricate as some but no one would be disappointed. A solid bet.”

“Pale straw. Really quite heady. Broad and fun with a deep undertow of ripe fruit. Some grapefruit character and more immediate fun than many.”

“Straw-yellow. Peach, apple, pear and clove on the nose; cooler than the Meursault cuvées. Juicy and intense, offering sharply delineated, mineral-driven orchard fruit flavors. This wiry high-altitude wine is a bit austere on the back end.”

“Within all the delicious creamy aroma there’s a light note of blossom and pear. Delicately fresh with a fine mineral quality. Tight and still creamy but a tiny bit dilute on the mid palate so that the finish is just moderate. (JH)”

“Oak a little more evident on the nose than on the Chassagne La Romanée. More cedary. Likewise on the palate, a little aggressive in its cedary character but there’s still deep fruit here to balance in time. Firm and savoury on the finish. Lovely wine but needs time. (JH)”

“Debut vintage, decanted well in advance.
A blend of 80-85% Cabernet Sauvignon with Cabernet Franc, whose fresh, leafy aroma made itself felt on the finish. Excellent, deep vibrant purplish crimson. Very intense with the exceptional clarity and intensity of a high-elevation wine like Ribera del Duero. Sumptuous nose but on the palate the acidity is evident with some extremely soft tannins. Very persistent and impressive. Not sweet but very good. ”

“Ao Yun 2013 A blend of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Cabernet Franc, this is a bold, dramatic and compelling debut wine from winemaker Maxence Dulou. Particularly impressive is the strong sense and imprint of place which is partially revealed…”

“There’s clarity and beauty to this wine as always with pure dark berry, stones and spices. Some clove too. Full body, firm and silky tannins and a long finish. Pure and precise wine with so much class. Try in 2020.”

“Very healthy deep crimson. Luscious fruit. Very beguiling. Spreads right across the palate. Extremely seductive. Just slightly inky on the finish at the moment but there is masses of ripe fruit and tannin here.”

“This is a complex and rich wine dominated by superripe fruit. It is a wine of extremes, of fruit, of dark tannins allied to some bitterness from the black chocolate extract. Ripe plums and sweet black fruits are given a lift at the end with bright acidity.”

“The 2013 Echo de Lynch-Bages is an absolutely delicious, entry-level wine bursting with sweet red fruit. Sweet floral notes add silkiness on the supple finish. This tasty, bistro-style red will be at its most expressive in its youth. The blend is 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Merlot.”

“Potent blackcurrant and nettle scent. Loads of fruit power, but a savoury structure and high acidity that suggests Bordeaux. Long, firm tannins on the finish too – this is a serious, stately wine made generous by a ripe vintage. ”

“A dense, immense, solidly powerful wine. The ripest fruit overflows, paralleling the dark, solid tannins. As so often, Lynch-Bages is a blockbuster, dark and concentrated, with immense aging potential.”

“Performing even better from bottle than it did from barrel, this appears to be the finest Lynch Bages since the 2000, 1990 and 1989. According to the chateau, the 2009 has the highest level of polyphenols ever measured as well as high alcohol (nearly 13.5%). A blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest largely Merlot with touches of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, it is an expressive, voluptuously textured effort with unctuosity and powerful, juicy, succulent blackberry and black currant flavors, low acids, a layered, massive mouthfeel, but no sense of heaviness or fatigue. This exquisite Lynch Bages should drink well for 30+ years.”

“Ripe and showing the typical generosity of this château, this bold, round wine is powered by rich berry and damson fruit flavors. It is juicy and perfumed, while the tannic structure and wood flavors are enveloped by the fruits. Drink from 2020.”

“Aromas of blackberry, black currant and flowers. Full body, ultra-fine tannins and a long and flavorful finish. Extremely well done for the vintage. Drink or hold.”

“The 2013 Lynch-Bages is unusual but also quite pretty. In this vintage the flavors are quite dark, with distinct dark red/purplish overtones. Dried flowers, cloves and sage are some of the notes that develop with time in the glass. The 2013 finishes with lovely length and precision. The blend is 72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot.”

“They are particularly proud of Graciano in 2011 – much riper than usual. Blackish purple. Seems a tad raw to me, but maybe it's riper than usual. Very interesting but marked acidity. It does taste like a blending grape to me.”

“A ripe and voluptuous red with lots of dried berry and chocolate character. Full body, soft tannins and loads of fruit. Generous and juicy style. From a six hectares vineyard of clay soil. 90% tempranillo and 10% graciano. Drink or hold.”

“From the Olivo vineyard and 90% Tempranillo and 10% Graciano. Not quite as intense a crimson as the Graciano. Sweet, graceful wine that is so much better balanced than the 100% Graciano! Delicate and beautifully balanced with lift and ripeness.”

“The 2010 Beaune Boucherottes, from a parcel on the lower part of the hill, emerges from the glass with sweet roses, red cherries, raspberries and white flowers. This is a relatively bright, focused style that shows the more feminine side of Beaune. Clean mineral notes give the finish an attractive element of pure energy. The Boucherottes should drink well upon release.”

“Pale ruby. Pale rim. Very open and a bit lacking in focus. Extraordinarily fruity on the palate. Pretty but difficult to see any use racing over this. Slightly bitter cough-sweet flavour on the finish.”

“This is aromatically quite similar to the Boucherottes with perhaps just a bit more floral influence. The mouth feel is also comparable because while there is excellent volume and intensity, the texture of the medium-bodied flavors is notably refined, all wrapped in a moderately austere, concentrated and driving finish. This is an interesting exercise in contrasts with a polished mid-palate juxtaposing against a robust, serious and old school finish. This will require ample patience.”

“The 2012 Beaune Clos des Ursules is the most lifted and refined of the Beaune 1er Crus from Jadot. Sweet raspberries, tobacco, freshly cut flowers, mint and cinnamon meld together gracefully in the glass. The Ursules is distinguished from the other Beaunes by its silky tannins and fabulous length. There is plenty of richness in the glass, but without the excess weight or extraction found in some of the other wines.”

“The 2012 Beaune 1er Cru Clos des Ursules is one of their premier holdings with a propensity to age with class. It has a fragrant, more floral bouquet with fine delineation - perhaps more feminine than the other Beaune premier crus. The palate is ripe and generous on the entry. This has good substance and breeding, the quality of the terroir really coming through on the persuasive finish that lingers long in the mouth. This Clos des Ursules is brimming over with confidence and class. Bravo!”

“Smudgy crimson. Heady sweetness. Really exciting depths to this. Very serious. Racy, punchy and super clean and bracing on the finish. Impressively persistent.”

“This is also notably cool and pure with a bit more complexity to the array of red and blue Pinot fruit suffused nose where floral and wet stone nuances add breadth. Like any number of the wines in the range the supporting tannins are quite fine and this is particularly true within the context of a more robust appellation like Les Baudes. There is excellent intensity to the muscular but sleek flavors and finish that displays fine persistence.”

“The 2012 Chambolle-Musigny Les Baudes stands out from the rest of this range of Chambolles for its rich, broad-shouldered personality. Savory herbs, licorice, new leather and black fruit inform a Chambolle laced with elements of structure and power that recall Bonnes-Mares, which lies just below. Savory herbs, licorice, new leather and black fruit linger on the firm, tannic finish.”

“Dark red. Ripe, brooding aromas of smoky soil and roasted herbs with fruit in the background reminded me of Bonnes-Mares. Quite backward and restrained in the middle palate, but with a sappy quality to the black cherry, saline and herb flavors. Best today on the serious finish, which features round, ripe, fine-grained tannins and noteworthy building length. This will need time to reveal its personality.”

“Juicy and haunting nose. Lots of fruit before the structure. Very beguiling. Complete. Long.”

“The 2010 Chapelle-Chambertin is dark and brooding. Cool, mineral notes lead to slate, black cherries, tar and licorice. This is a decidedly muscular, intense Burgundy with tons of density and power enshrouded by statuesque tannins. The sheer power and intensity suggest the Chapelle will require considerable patience. This big, dramatic wine is built for the cellar, but it is without question a showstopper, even today.”

“The exceptional freshness of the 2010 vintage is more than apparent here with a restrained and cool nose of intensely earthy red and dark berry fruit aromas that also display forest floor and humus notes. There is outstanding concentration to the extract-rich broad-shouldered flavors that display plenty of power and muscle on the impressively persistent finish. This is a big wine yet it carries its size and weight effortlessly in large part because of the fine mid-palate concentration and relatively fine grain of the tannins.”

“Good full red. Rather hermetic, reduced nose hints at black cherry and botanical herbs. Extremely rich but closed, with a medicinal reserve to the black cherry, menthol and pepper flavors. Best today on the very long, strong finish, where the youthful tannins grab the palate and don't let go. This will need extended cellaring.”

“The 2010 Clos Vougeot bursts onto the palate with a rush of dark red fruit. This is another wine that had a very slow malolactic fermentation (at the time of this tasting there was a portion of the wine still finishing its malo). The 2010 needs time to find its balance but the raw materials are superb.”

“Dark crimson. A little severe. Chewy – very chewy – quite dry! Not convincing at the moment, as though the fruit has been sucked out of this wine. Malo finished relatively recently.”

“A slightly more complex and even a bit more elegant nose offers up notes of menthol, spice and very fresh red currant and wild raspberries that are set off by moderate wood influence. There is excellent richness to the mouth coating big-bodied flavors that brim with plenty of dry extract as well as solid power and muscle on the gorgeously long finale. This is at present very serious and while not rustic it's clear that this will require plenty of cellaring. Drink: 2027+”

“The 2012 Grands Echezeaux Grand Cru is more mild-mannered and serious on the nose when compared to the Echezeaux - poker-faced black fruit hand in hand with tertiary aromas. The palate is very refined with silky smooth tannins. This is very harmonious with impressive weight and sensuality towards the finish that fans out with more precision and grace than the Echezeaux, retaining tight control at every moment. Excellent.”

“Bright mid crimson. Bitter red cherry nose. Not immediately obvious that this is a grand cru; it seems just a little spindly. A tad sour on the end. There is some density but not much charm.”

“A beautifully complex and airy nose features ripe aromas of exuberantly spicy plum, violet, sauvage and essence of red currant. There is a very round and velvety mouth feel to the delicious medium weight flavors that somehow manage to retain a good sense of delineation and energy on the overtly mineral-inflected and wonderfully long finish. I very much like the sense of harmony where the fine-grained tannins add to that impression. This should be excellent in time though note that it will require a minimum of 10 years of cellar time before this is approachable and another 5 to 7 before it arrives at its peak.”

“Bright dark red. Deep aromas of black cherry and chocolatey torrefaction show an almost candied ripeness. Broad, sweet and large-scaled, with a saline quality and impressive medicinal reserve to the floral and spice flavors. A rather powerful and ripe yet sappy Clos Saint-Jacques with a slowly mounting, seamless, horizontal finish featuring big, ripe tannins and terrific tactile length. As impressive as this is, it shows the vintage more than the cru today.”

“One of the highlights of the range this year, the 2012 Gevrey-Chambertin Clos Saint-Jacques is utterly magnificent. Dark cherry, plum, smoke, licorice and violet notes flesh out in a voluptuous, racy Burgundy endowed with stunning depth and pure pedigree. With time in the glass the flavors flesh out beautifully. The Clos Saint-Jacques is voluptuous and supple, yet also backed up by plenty of structure. Drinking window: 2022 - 2042”

“The 2012 Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Clos Saint-Jacques has a fragrant bouquet: floral at first with touches of violet, later revealing a stony scents, hints of chalk dust and flint surfacing with time. The palate is medium-bodied with very fine tannins and impressive focus. It feels composed in the mouth with good matiere, yet it remains sophisticated and tense right to the finish. There is nothing flash here, just pure quality.”

“Such exciting intensity and purity. It's just lovely! Depth plus transparency and raciness. No surprise it has an 'Allocation Exhausted' sign on the bottle. Long and pure. What burgundy is all about. You really could, but should not, drink this now.”

“Tank sample. Dark crimson. Much more appetising than the Clos de Rochegrès. Great freshness and energy on the end. But still lots of chew – and personality.”

“Tank sample. Dark crimson. Much more appetising than the Clos de Rochegrès. Great freshness and energy on the end. But still lots of chew – and personality.”

“Tank sample. Dark crimson. Much more appetising than the Clos de Rochegrès. Great freshness and energy on the end. But still lots of chew – and personality.”

“Tank sample. Bright crimson (darker than most of the red burgundies) with masses of obvious tannin. Slightly dry end. Very youthful. Some sweetness.”

“Tank sample. Bright crimson (darker than most of the red burgundies) with masses of obvious tannin. Slightly dry end. Very youthful. Some sweetness.”

“Tank sample. Bright crimson (darker than most of the red burgundies) with masses of obvious tannin. Slightly dry end. Very youthful. Some sweetness.”

“Tank sample. Something a bit odd on the nose. Marrons glacés flavours and then very drying – and alcoholic - on the end.”

“Tank sample. Something a bit odd on the nose. Marrons glacés flavours and then very drying – and alcoholic - on the end.”

“Tank sample. Something a bit odd on the nose. Marrons glacés flavours and then very drying – and alcoholic - on the end.”

“This is aromatically similar to the Clos des Chênes but with a touch of menthol. The suave, round and utterly delicious flavors are shaped by relatively fine tannins and plenty of sappy dry extract yet the finish is exceptionally firm, intense and highly persistent finish, that is at present overtly austere. Somewhat curiously, this is not quite as refined as the Clos des Chênes and is actually on the robust side at present. Note further that this will require a very long cellar snooze before it is completely ready for prime time."”

“The 2010 Volnay Clos de la Barre is a huge, implosive wine loaded with fruit. This explosive Volnay bursts onto the palate with black cherries, tar, licorice, smoke and incense. The aromas and flavors take on a decidedly exotic quality as the wine sits in the glass. This is another wine with a bright future. Anticipated maturity: 2018-2028.”

“Mid ruby. Scented and subtle on the nose. Very firm and fine with great precision. Great line of fruit, most impressive. Real delineation.”

“A similar thread runs through the 2012 Volnay Clos de la Barre. Firm tannins enrobe a core of seriously deep, rich fruit. Here, too, readers will have to be patient, as the 2012 is structured, virile and imposing, and is likely to remain so for some time.”

“Monopole. Very bright crimson. Sweet and gentle and flattering on the nose and then unexpectedly dry finish. Still very youthful. Almost raw.”

“The 2010 Volnay-Santenots is bristling with energy. It is currently holding back much of its true potential, but there is a ton of vibrancy in its dark red fruit. I especially like its energy and tension. This is an intensely mineral style that will require some patience, but this is shaping up to be a striking wine.”

“Complex aromas of blueberry, rose petal, licorice, and currant. Full body, ultra fine tannins and a fresh and clean finish. Balanced and very refined. A wonderful purity and beauty. Give it three to four years to come together but already a beauty. A blend of 60% cabernet sauvignon, 16% carmenere, 11% malbec, 8% merlot and 5% petit verdot.”

“This is a wine that simultaneously defines elegance and power. Complex aromas of blueberry, black currant, and black licorice. Full-body yet refined and beautiful with stunning length and complexity. It has a transparency that shows such greatness and beauty. Half the normal production. Has an energy and brightness. Chile's first perfect wine and well deserved. Better in 2020.”