1949 Musigny

Tasted at the Musigny dinner in London, the 1949 Musigny Grand Cru was, for many, the highlight of the evening. The first word that I wrote down was simply "Wow." The aromatics are splendid: so detailed and focused, conveying real energy and frisson—bright red fruit, rose petals and just a faint hint of caramel in the background. Monitoring the wine over the course of 20 or 30 minutes, if anything it gains cohesion rather than falling apart. The palate is beautifully balanced with great depth, but it is the unerring symmetry of this Musigny that really strikes. It fans out on the finish with strawberry, orange peel and mineral. It is a fabulous 1949 red Burgundy. Tasted March 2017.