2016 Domaine François Lamarche Vosne-Romanée Les Suchots 1er Cru

Nicole told me that she lost 80% of the crop, which means there are only four barrels of the 2016 Vosne Romanee 1er Cru les Suchots this year. It has an agreeable, clean and pure nose with red cherries, blueberry and a touch of orange peel, although like many Suchots this vintage, it feels denuded the opulence and flamboyance a great Suchots brings to the table. The palate is nevertheless well balanced with fine tannin, much more linear and direct than the 2015, with dark berry fruit laced with tobacco toward the finish. Fine, but I might actually prefer the Vosne-Romanée Chaumes this year.