2016 Domaine Bouchard Pere et Fils, Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru

The 2016 Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru comes just from the highest plot within the ancient stone-walled vineyard, as the lower plot was pulled up. It has quite a powerful bouquet with black cherries, bergamot, fresh fig and raspberry preserve aromas all well defined. The palate is very well balanced with sensual ripe tannin, good acidity, a little oak to be assimilated on the finish but otherwise a classy Clos Vougeot that will rank alongside those from more chichi, bijou names.

For reports and full tasting notes, go toTim Atkin MW's website.

(from estate and purchased grapes; 50% vendange entier ): Medium red. Distinctly purple aromas of boysenberry, violet and lavender. At once dense and juicy, with high-pitched but harmonious purple fruit flavors nicely framed and lifted by sound acidity. Finishes firmly tannic but not at all hard, with a lovely touch of sweetness and a note of saline minerality. Today I much prefer this wine to the Echézeaux. Winemaker Weber told me he likes to pick this Clos Vougeot later in order to get mellower acidity and riper tannins, but noted that he does not find this wine high in pH. But he admitted that some of these 2016 Côte de Nuits grand crus are carrying close to 14% alcohol.