2014 Domaine Comte Georges de Vogüé Musigny Vieilles Vignes Grand Cru

The 2014 Musigny Vieilles Vignes Grand Cru has a very intense, cold stone and blackberry scented bouquet, moving towards subtle marine like aromas (oyster shells, Crustacea) with time. There is just wonderful precision here. The palate is medium-bodied with a gentle grip in the mouth, firm backbone, a slightly more masculine Musigny with just a hint of savoriness towards the long finish. This is showing great personality even at this early juncture, although of course, it will not even consider reaching its drinking plateau without 8-10 years in bottle. I suspect this Musigny will only gradually open. Tasted November 2016.

Bright, dark red. Knockout nose offers most of the Musigny food groups: raspberry, cherry, earth, wild herbs, flowers and minerals, plus a leathery nuance. Pungent and extremely intense but utterly weightless owing to its near-perfect balance of sweetness and juiciness. Best today on the explosive, building back end, which offers a powerfully chewy, sappy impression but no rough edges. Winemaker François Millet suggests waiting at least 10 to 15 years.

(from a barrel that had not yet been racked): Bright red-ruby color. Slightly reduced aromas of blackberry, cassis, violet, licorice and bitter chocolate, with leather and herb nuances. Rich, tactile and deep, offering outstanding concentration and chewiness to its dark fruit and saline flavors. This brooding wine is impressively dense but a bit musclebound today, still searching for its inner Pinot.