2016 Domaine Fourrier, Gevrey-Chambertin Premier Cru, Combe au Moine Vieille Vigne

Good moderately saturated red. Deep, brooding aromas of black cherry, licorice and smoky minerality. As mineral-driven as the Goulots but with more size and breadth to its dark fruit and spice flavors. Sweet and seamless in the middle, spreading out horizontally to saturate the palate; lovely floral element. Finishes suave and very long, with fine-grained tannins; at once fully ripe and vibrant. This beauty will need at least a few years in bottle to reveal its full personality.

Moderate amounts of wood and menthol characters serve as a less than neutral backdrop for the earth and sauvage-inflected dark pinot fruit-suffused nose. The supple, round and unusually forward flavors possess a seductive mouthfeel though the finish immediately tightens up which suggests that this will need the better part of a decade to reach its apogee.

Tank sample. Rather paler than most – pale crimson. Very rich and round on the nose but with acidity and delicacy on the palate. Sandy tannins on the end. Real lift here. (JR)