2014 Richebourg

Good dark red. More reticent, very deep aromas of black raspberry, smoke, espresso, dark chocolate and sexy soil tones. Sweet, even plush on entry, offering rich flavors of blackcurrant, coffee and Asian spices, then more closed in the middle and turning distinctly minerally and firm toward the back. The seriously tannic, savory finish features almost iodiney minerality and great mounting, resounding length. Already conveys superb silky extract richness but this potentially great Richebourg will need at least a decade of cellaring to approach maturity.

(45% new oak):Red-ruby color. Aromas of blackberry, licorice and crushed rock are complicated by a sexy note of charred oak. Not a particularly sweet style but savory and strong, boasting superb inner-mouth energy and lift. Finishes with powerful tongue-dusting tannins and a note of saline minerality. This should be a long ager.

The 2014 Richebourg Grand Cru has a quite compelling bouquet, as one is getting accustomed to chez Grivot. There are pure dark cherries, red plum and boysenberry fruit here, infused with fine mineralité and that sense of aristocracy one seeks in a Richebourg. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin, wonderful acidity and beautifully integrated oak. There is great poise here, power hand in hand with elegance, a consummate Richebourg that will give a lot of pleasure over many years.