2012 Domaine Fourrier, Gevrey-Chambertin, Vieille Vigne

Sweet, perfumed and impeccable, the 2012 Gevrey-Chambertin Vieilles Vignes stands out for its inner perfume, silky fruit and exceptional overall balance. Blue/purple fruit, hard candy, violets and sweet spices flesh out in the glass. The Vieilles Vignes is pliant and generous, yet it also has plenty of energy as well. It is one of the many highlights in this range. The Vieilles Vignes emerges from a parcel in Champs Perriers planted in 1928.

(the two most important parcels that make up this wine, in Champerrier and Les Jouises, were planted in 1929 and 1940, respectively): Good bright, full red. Sappy cherry and sweet oak on the nose; smells deep. Then intensely flavored but tighter than the Aux Echezeaux, with more obvious acidity and stronger supporting minerality. Very nicely balanced wine with bright acidity. A great village wine in the making. Fourrier did two punchdowns per day during the active days of fermentation, as extraction came easily in 2012, noted his wife Vicki.

North of village, at the bottom of Champerrier plus a bit from Combe du Bas, planted in 1928. 10,000 vines/ha. This came from his father. Purely a coincidence that it was planted same year as the Aux Échezeaux from his mother. Fine and with great line and freshness. Chewy end. Finishes a little suddenly. (JR)