2013 Domaine Jean Grivot, Vosne-Romanee Premier Cru, Les Rouges

The 2013 Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru les Rouges, my sample having a little more new wood than the final blend, had a slight reduction on the nose so I will not dwell on that. The palate is medium-bodied and more plump than the Chaumées, more sensual perhaps with a lush red cherry and strawberry finish that linger in the mouth. More approachable than the Chaumees, this might be deceptively long lived. One of Etienne's less-known vineyards, this put in a strong and commendable showing.

Here the expressive nose blends both upper and lower register aromas of herbal tea, spice and floral nuances with notes of pomegranate and plum. There is a lovely mouth feel to the lightly mineral-inflected medium weight flavors that possess fine volume and intensity before culminating in a dusty, serious and mildly austere finish. This will likely need most of a decade of cellar time to reveal its full potential.