2015 Domaine d'Eugénie Vosne-Romanée

(from young vines harvested at 12.6% potential alcohol; 100% destemmed; 20% new oak; this wine had been racked into tank six weeks prior to my visit): Bright, dark red. Very ripe aromas of black cherry and minerals accented by black pepper. Boasts excellent fruit intensity for village wine, with pungent minerality providing definition and lift. This penetrating, savory wine finishes perfumed and long, with suave tannin treatment. A terrific showing for this cuvée , displaying wonderful energy for the year; really vibrates in the middle palate and rises on the aftertaste.

The 2015 Vosne-Romanée Village is the same blend of three blocks that includes the bottom part of Les Brûlées. Everything is de-stemmed and underwent a long cuvaison of 23 days. It has a very attractive bouquet with raspberry preserve, crushed rose petals and a light wet limestone scent. The palate is medium-bodied with silky black cherry and strawberry, slightly confit-like, with decent length if needing just a touch more nervosité to come through. This is a slight improvement over the 2014 last year and should offer several years of drinking pleasure.

20% new oak. From Vigneaux and the bottom bit of Brûlées because they don’t reckon it’s up to premier cru standard – a little bit rustic. Racked last week. An unusual, tense nose that seems quite unlike the other 2015 Vosnes I have been tasting. But on the palate there’s the same generosity of fruit, even softness. A charmer – really quite sweet! For early drinking. Not quite the energy of some Vosnes but a flattering drink. (JR)