2019 Vosne Romanee

The 2019 Vosne-Romanée Village has pastille-like purity on a nose of wild strawberry and raspberry, which remains tight in the glass, violets only reluctantly emerging with aeration. The palate is well balanced and the 20% new oak neatly integrated. Smooth and focused with hints of mandarin and blood orange toward the finish. Not huge length here, but nicely crafted.

The 2019 Vosne-Romanée Village is also very promising, mingling aromas of cassis and raspberries with hints of dark chocolate, rose hips and warm spices. Medium to full-bodied, concentrated and vibrant, it's deep and layered, with powdery structuring tannins and a long, sapid finish. I deferred my tasting with Charles Van Canneyt until as late as possible, as he told me that several protracted malolactic fermentations had only just concluded by the end of harvest 2020. The wines were worth the wait, however, as this is a terrific success for Domaine Hudelot-Noëllat. Rich, dramatic and concentrated, with vibrant fruit tones and ripe tannins, everything reviewed here comes recommended. Yields were low, and alcohol levels range between 13.5 and 14.5, but the wines are more dynamic than their 2018 counterparts (which a packed schedule precluded me from revisiting on this occasion, something I'll endeavor to remedy before too long).