2016 Vosne-Romanée Premier Cru Aux Brûlées

Vinous: (13.2% natural alcohol; 28 hectoliters per hectare produced in 2016; from a steep, mostly south-facing slope with good sun exposure but also a cooling influence from the combe to preserve acidity; from calcaire à chaille with no clay): Bright dark red. A step up in complexity on the nose from the foregoing wines, boasting a compelling perfume of raspberry, cranberry, licorice, menthol and rose petal. At once silky and cutting, offering a captivating combination of textural thickness and penetrating flavors of crushed red berries and stone. A terrific sappy fruit bomb with serious mineral tautness and grip. Finishes very long, with a fine dusting of tannins. The distinctive hot-cold balance of this site allows it to benefit from either cold or warm years, according to Clavelier. - Stephen Tanzer, Jan. 2018