2018 Fixin Les Arvelets
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Tasting notes
The 2018 Fixin Les Arvelets 1er Cru is very delineated and focused on the nose, a mixture of red and black fruit, say two-thirds and one-third, that commingle with sous-bois and crushed stone aromas. Quite precise. The palate is well balanced with pliant tannins, nicely focused and harmonious. Everything is hunky dory until the finish where I find an incongruous bitterness that feels harsh (possibly a bit of cork taint?) Perhaps time will address that feature? Tasted blind at the Burgfest 2018 red tasting.
Critic scores
Average Score
Julia Harding MW, jancisrobinson.com
Tim Jackson MW, jancisrobinson.com
More reviews and scores
Five-spice, cedar and a hint of flint, with flinty blue fruit on the palate that tries hard to balance the robust, chalky tannins. Just about pulls it off. (TJ)
The 2018 Fixin Les Arvelets 1er Cru is matured in 35% new oak. It has a tight but focused bouquet that takes time to unfurl, eventually offering a mixture of red and blue fruit plus just a touch of potpourri. The palate is medium-bodied with supple, grainy tannins, good density on the midpalate and an engaging, fleshy but delineated, peppery finish. Very fine.
This is the first wine in the range to display any appreciable reduction and here it's enough to suppress the fruit. By contrast, there is very good freshness and intensity to the well-delineated and overtly mineral-inflected flavors that are shaped by relatively fine-grained tannins on the noticeably warm finish.