2017 Vosne Romanee

The 2017 Vosne-Romanée Village is less expressive on the nose compared to its Nuits Saint-Georges counterpart, coming across as broody and a little withdrawn at the moment. The palate is well balanced, quite mineral-driven and much more open. This starts in understated fashion but seems to gain depth and precision toward the slightly confit-like finish. Great potential, but it needs time.

Rouget opted to mature the 2017 Vosne-Romanée Village in a mere 30% new oak this year, hoping to preserve the purity of the vintage's fruit, and the result is a beautifully balanced wine that bursts from the glass with aromas of smoky raspberries, sweet spices and candied peel. On the palate, it's medium to full-bodied, supple and expressive with melting tannins and a gourmand but succulent core of fruit, concluding with a beautifully delineated finish.