2013 Joseph Drouhin, Musigny Grand Cru

The 2013 Musigny Grand Cru was picked on October 8, underwent a 19-day maceration and contains partial whole-cluster fruit. The nose is standoffish at first, but it’s just playing with you. It has superb definition and transparency: wilted violets and blackberry coming through with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, tensile in the mouth, plenty of energy here with a long and beautifully composed finish. This is one of the wines of the vintage - regal and majestic.

Bright, full red. Deep aromas and flavors of dark fruits, violet, mocha and truffley underbrush. Fat, sweet and rich; full and sharply delineated, combining subtle earthy nuances and captivating floral high notes. Finishes with serious but suave tannins and terrific energy and length. The acidity of the 2013s will slow down their development in bottle, notes Frèdèric Drouhin.

Partial whole cluster. 19 days' maceration, 16 months in oak. Dark cherry red. Smells sweetly spiced and gentle. Black cherry. Dry and lithe and ineffably refined. No fat, no excess but nothing is missing. Lithe, sinewy tannins. Such great energy and back to that precision with a firmness that holds the fruit in check for now. (JH)