2018 Gilbert et Christine Felettig, Echezeaux Grand Cru

Scents of wild berries, cherries, spices, candied peel and smoked tea introduce the 2018 Échezeaux Grand Cru, a full-bodied, layered and muscular wine that's succulent and concentrated, built around a broad-shouldered chassis of rich but ripe tannin. This is another of the more reserved wines in the cellar, and I look forward to revisiting it from bottle. Readers may remember that Felettig's holdings are located in Les Treux and that he planted this parcel in 2001.

The 2018 Echézeaux Grand Cru includes 40% whole-bunch fruit and is matured in 450-liter new barrels. The intense bouquet features marmalade-tinged red berry fruit, white pepper and a touch of Provençal herbs. The palate is quite oaky on the entry, and perhaps the wood impinges more on the Grand Cru than upon the Aux Reignots, especially on the finish, which feels a little overwhelmed by the wood. Let’s see how this turns out in bottle.