2016 Beaune Les Perrieres

(20% new oak and one-third vendange entier ; the average vine age here is 50 years): Medium red. More delicate on the nose than the Les Sizies, offering scents of strawberry and stone. Then juicier and more energetic on the palate, showing lovely precision and penetration to its red fruit and saline mineral flavors. On the lean side but the firmly tannic finish leaves behind a salty tang. Winemaker Brian Sieve describes the estate's Perrières holding as "our most active limestone site along with the Nuits-Saint-Georges Aux Thoreys." This wine started its malolactic fermentation sur marc--i.e., in the tank before the alcoholic fermentation finished.

The 2016 Beaune 1er Cru les Perrieres comes from 100% limestone soils and includes one-third whole cluster fruit. Half of the vineyard was vanquished by frost. It has a modest, tightly wound bouquet with blackberry and raspberry fruit, loamy scents surfacing with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with impressive focus, a little stern and abrupt perhaps, with plenty of freshness and vitality. A bit aloof at the moment, but I think this will come good once in bottle.

The 2016 Beaune 1er Cru les Perrieres comes from 100% limestone soils and includes one-third whole cluster fruit. Half of the vineyard was vanquished by frost. It has a modest, tightly wound bouquet with blackberry and raspberry fruit, loamy scents surfacing with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with impressive focus, a little stern and abrupt perhaps, with plenty of freshness and vitality. A bit aloof at the moment, but I think this will come good once in bottle. Dec 2017, www.robertparker.com