2011 Criots Batard Montrachet
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Tasting notes
Pale color. Reticent, high-pitched aromas of crushed stone and lavender. Juicy, pure and tightly wound, with lemony acidity accentuating the impression of energy and precision. The sappy citrus and stone flavors carry through on the firm, perfumed, very long finish. This wine will need several years in bottle to expand. Struck me as in the same quality class as the 2012, and perhaps more backward.
Critic scores
Average Score
Allen Meadows, Burghound
Jancis Robinson MW
More reviews and scores
White flowers, lychee and mint all take shape in the 2011 Criots-Batard-Montrachet, a wine that impresses for its balance. Like all of the 2011 wines from Fontaine-Gagnard, the 2011 is quite understated in style but the wine's inner perfume threads the needle beautifully, giving the wine its sense of direction and energy. There is a lot to like in the 2011 Criots. Celine Fontaine notes that the berries were especially tiny here.
Tense and lively. Very good effort. Smoky and sinewy. Well constructed and the finish is cool even though there is no shortage of fruit. Just a slightly diffuse finish. (JR)
Criots, because of its amphitheater-like shape that heats up, often is quite exotic. This version is not an exception though in this case it's less than usual as the yellow orchard fruit and dried floral aromas are wonderfully fresh. There is excellent volume to the focused, detailed and powerful medium weight plus flavors that brim with plenty of mouth coating dry extract that imparts a seductive palate impression to the impressively deep and long finish. This is sufficiently firm that it will need the better part of a decade to arrive at its full maturity but it should still be approachable after 5 to 6 years if desired. Tasted: Jun 11, 2013. Drink: 2019+