2016 Chambolle Musigny 1er Cru

This is also ultra-fresh, cool and airy with restrained aromas that are composed of notes of dark currant, blueberry, lavender, violet and a wisp of spice. There is once again excellent punch and detail to the wonderfully vibrant medium-bodied flavors that exude evident minerality on the focused and chiseled finish that delivers first-rate persistence. This elegant effort is a combination of finesse and punch.

(20% new oak): Healthy dark red. Deeper and darker on the nose than the village Chambolle, offering scents of black raspberry and smoky minerality. Denser and richer too, but still with a slight sour edge to its youthfully medicinal flavors of candied red berries, cherry and licorice. Finishes with substantial dusty tannins. Plenty of intensity here but not at all a relaxed style, no doubt due to the very low crop level.

The 2016 Chambolle Musigny 1er Cru, from the under-25 year-old vines "barred" from the Musigny, is a step up from the village cru in terms of depth and fruit intensity, a mixture of raspberry and blackcurrant, fine mineralité and a subtle touch of iodine. The palate is replete with crunchy black fruit, a fine-boned Chambolle with a dash of white pepper fanning out toward the finish. I appreciate the energy and the focus of this wine and it should age with style once in bottle.