2014 Domaine Méo-Camuzet Vosne-Romanée Les Chaumes 1er Cru

Full, bright medium red. Aromas of raspberry, black cherry and menthol are complemented by an element of sweet oak. Sweet but tightly wound; in fact, this wine is currently dominated by its tannic backbone. No shortage of flavor intensity here but I find it tough going today. Méo told me that he always considered his Chaumes to be a gentle wine and thought it needed more structure. So he vinified a high-acid 0. 5-hectare parcel together with a 1. 5-hectare site that normally produces a sweet, supple, elegant style, rather than waiting to make the blend prior to the bottling. Today I find something a bit raw to the tannins. Will they soften during the final months of élevage ?

The 2014 Vosne Romanée 1er Cru les Chaumes has a light, rose petal-tinged bouquet that needs more encouragement from the glass than its 'classmates.' The palate is medium-bodied with a fine structure. It has a slightly chalky texture and feels tightly wound on the finish\, which makes it feel shorter than I think it really is. I suspect it will spread its wings after bottling.