2019 Domaine des Lambrays, Clos des Lambrays Grand Cru

The 2019 Clos des Lambrays Grand Cru has a completely different bouquet compared to the 2020. Intense brambly red fruit, black plum, a little earthiness, maybe less mineralite compared to the ‘19. The palate is medium-bodied with pliant tannins, quite fresh, more linear than expected. I wonder if this will close down for a few years? Quite compact towards the finish. Still, this is a great succss.

The 2019 Clos des Lambrays Grand Cru is showing very well in bottle, wafting from the glass with aromas of raspberries, strawberries and plums mingled with scents of orange rind, rose petals and sweet spices. Full-bodied, ample and satiny, it's a sensual, caressing wine with a fleshy core of fruit, polished tannins and lively balancing acids. This will offer a broad drinking window.

Since 2019, they have vinified and aged their 12 plots separately, rather than co-fermenting. Herbal, tomato-stalk aromas with dark fruit that has plenty of heft and grand-cru ripeness. There's a definite step up from the Morey-St-Denis, and it speaks of the 2019 heat too. Such lovely crunchiness. Clearly needs time, this is very primary and youthful. (RH)