2011 Domaine Sylvain Cathiard, Vosne-Romanee Premier Cru, En Orveaux

Bright red. Black raspberry, spices, animal fur and smoky minerality on the nose, with a light jammy suggestion and some pungent oak. Creamy-sweet and lush on the palate, with an old-viney thickness of texture that really saturates the mouth on the finish. This very ripe wine betrays just a tough of oaky harshness today, but there's also good lift from the calcaire-rich soil.

Outstanding. A distinctly floral nose is cool and pure with notes of violet, plum and plenty of spice. There is good intensity to the rich, focused and energetic middle weight flavors that brim with a fine minerality on the precise, balanced and beautifully lingering finish. This is a really lovely combination of punch and finesse. Drink: 2017+
-Allen Meadows, burghound.com Issue 49. Tasted: Jan 14, 2013