2016 Clos des Lambrays
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Tasting notes
Since 2014 LVMH have owned this estate, whose main house is just across the road from Clos de Tart, where Jacques Devauges was once winemaker. He took over from Thierry Bruin in 2019. Bruin will have made this particularly successful wine in a vintage that was also especially successful for Devauges when he made the wine at Clos de Tart – despite hail, frost and mildew! Clos des Lambrays is not quite a monopole, thanks to the tiny holding there of Taupenot-Merme. Transparent garnet – one of the lightest wines so far. Very pretty and extremely fragrant and winning. Gentle with resolved tannins and perhaps a little more freshness than some but a real charmer. After some raspberry fruit there is an undertow of structure and perhaps a note of orange peel? Lots of juicy fruit but with real delicacy. Quite deceptive because you could drink this straight away but it clearly has the structure for a long life. (JR)
Critic scores
Average Score
Neal Martin
The Wine Advocate
More reviews and scores
Sweet red fruit with a touch of marzipan as well as cake spice. Semi-firm tannins on the palate with nicely balanced acidity, finishing with a touch of chocolate. Just a hint of leafiness. Not entirely thrilling, but a solid and reliable style. Those tannins get quite furry on the length. (RH)
The 2016 Clos des Lambrays Grand Cru is extremely well defined on the nose with blacker fruit than its peers, wet limestone scents percolating through the red berry fruit, somehow sedate and effortless. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy red fruit, nigh perfect acidity, a touch of fleshiness towards the finish. It is not the most ambitious Grand Cru, yet in terms of sheer pleasure, this hits the spot. Drink over the next 15 to 20 years. Tasted blind at the Burgfest 2016 tasting.
About the producer
Domaine des Lambrays is one of Morey-Saint-Denis’s most famous estates, its history closely tied to the Grand Cru from which it takes its name – Clos des Lambrays.