2013 Bonnes Mares
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Tasting notes
Tasted blind at the Burgfest tasting in Beaune, the 2013 Bonnes Mares Grand Cru from Christophe Roumier has a ripe redcurrant, kirsch and vanilla-tinged bouquet, high-toned but not volatile, generous if missing some mineralité. The palate is defined by its very smooth texture: seamless and so lithe in the mouth. There is impressive purity here and while you could describe this as "showy" (not an adjective that I often apply to Christophe's wines), that is meant in a positive way. There is the substance to suggest this will age with style -- a sophisticated and thoroughly enjoyable Bonnes-Mares to savor. Tasted September 2016.
Critic scores
Average Score
Neal Martin
Jancis Robinson MW
More reviews and scores
Bright medium red. Knockout high-pitched aromas of red berries, peony and orange peel. Boasts compelling subtle density and sharp definition to its taut flavors of blackberry, violet, licorice, spices and minerals. In its juicy sappiness, this is like chewing on a ripe cherry. A classic Bonnes-Mares, offering superb volume without any undue weight. And an outstanding example of what phenolically ripe fruit could make in this cool vintage.
(from a crop level of 22 hectoliters per hectare): Bright, dark red. Captivating, vibrant nose melds cherry, wild spices, peony and fresh herbs, plus a suggestion of white peach. Delivers compelling sweetness on the palate but with strong minerality and firm acidity giving sharp focus to the chewy red fruit and complex soil flavors. From this wine's verve and high pitch I might have guessed that I was tasting Roumier's "white soil" parcel from the Chambolle side of his Bonnes-Mares holding but in fact he had already blended it with his parcel from redder soils on the Morey side. Wonderfully complete, palate-staining Bonnes-Mares with outstanding energy.
About the producer
Based in Chambolle-Musigny, the domaine was established by Georges Roumier in 1924. The domaine started to bottle their own wines in 1945.