2014 Vosne Romanee Les Suchots

Good bright medium red. Medicinal black cherry, dark raspberry, licorice and minerals on the nose, along with a full dose of spicy oak. Creamy on entry, then very firm and minerally in the middle, showing a captivating fine-grained texture and superb density. But this is not a fleshy, sweet wine in the context of this cellar. The persistent finish features good juicy lift, chewy tannins and a lingering note of bitter cherry. I find this a bit austere today.

The 2014 Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Les Suchots has a very pure raspberry and wild strawberry bouquet mixed with sous-bois and even a touch of menthol. One of the most exotic perfumes amongst the plethora of reds. The palate is medium-bodied with quite firm tannin that kind of brings you down to earth: dense in the mouth but for me, just a little austere on the finish in the context of the vineyard. I'll be conservative at the moment with my score and hope that the palate catches up with the nose by the time it is bottled.

Bright, dark red. Aromas of licorice, violet, black olive and cocoa powder reminded me a bit of Côte-Rôtie. Powerful, solidly built and dry but a bit warm in the early going, showing more minerals and menthol than primary fruits. Finishes with substantial broad, dusty tannins and little obvious fruit. An awkward showing today: I wanted more sweetness of fruit.