2016 Arbois Trois Cepages

The one red blend 2016 Arbois Trois Cépages is 60% Pinot Noir, 35% Trousseau and 5% Poulsard from a low crop because of problems with flowering and some illnesses that affected the plants. This was a year for those who worked in the vineyard, because otherwise they could have lost the crop or had to harvest early without ripeness. All grapes were destemmed, fermented separately and then blended and aged in large oak foudre and Burgundy barrels for ten months. The Trousseau gives the spiciness to the nose here; this is a very subtle and elegant red blend with a very tasty palate with focused flavors and fine tannins, more elegant and insinuating, in a fine style.

65% Pinot Noir, 25% Trousseau, 10% Poulsard. 12 months in tank or foudre. Lightish cherry red. Pretty and Burgundian on the nose. Red fruited but no otiose sweetness. Beautifully aromatic. Utterly gorgeous on the palate, silky, seductive, delicate but intensely fruited. Lovely freshness and excellent length. Tannin texture is silky, fluid but not flimsy. Very long, gorgeous. You could enjoy this now with the beauty of the fruit and freshness but I imagine it will age very gracefully. Elegant in the extreme. (JH)

The one red blend 2016 Arbois Trois Cepages is 60% Pinot Noir, 35% Trousseau and 5% Poulsard from a low crop because of problems with flowering and some illnesses that affected the plants. This was a year for those who worked in the vineyard, because otherwise they could have lost the crop or had to harvest early without ripeness. All grapes were destemmed, fermented separately and then blended and aged in large oak foudre and Burgundy barrels for ten months. The Trousseau gives the spiciness to the nose here; this is a very subtle and elegant red blend with a very tasty palate with focused flavors and fine tannins, more elegant and insinuating, in a fine style. Dec 2017, www.robertparker.com