2014 Savigny Les Beaune La Dominode

Instead, we gossiped like there was no tomorrow and drank a bottle of 2014 Savigny-lès-Beaune La Dominode 1er Cru from Domaine Jean-Marc et Hugues Pavelot. This example did not quite deliver as I expected, being, I suspect, in a bit of a dumb phase. It just lacked a little presence on the nose, coming across angular and unable to settle, the stemmy element dominating too much for my liking (and this from someone who loves whole-bunch addition). Likewise, the palate missed the charm that it exuded when I originally tasted it from barrel. My advice would be to leave it for a couple of years to exit its sulk.

Bright red-ruby. Excellent lift to the aromas of kirsch , blackcurrant, licorice and minerals. Juicy and penetrating if a bit youthfully lean and backward, conveying a strong impression of medicinal reserve to its flavors of black cherry, shoe polish, licorice, herbs and saline minerality. These vines were hit hard by hail in 2014 and it remains to be seen whether this wine will ever really blossom in bottle. At the least, it will require considerable patience.

(30% new oak): Deep ruby-red, the darkest of the line-up. Very pure aromas of blackberry, bitter chocolate and licorice. Then tightly wound and inky, currently hiding more than it's showing. These vines were hit hard by hail, and this wine will take a long time to reveal its personality. Today it's quite dry and edgy, with the finish displaying dusty tannins. This wine still needs to be enriched on its lees.