de Montille Vosne Romanee Aux Malconsorts Cuvee Christiane 1er Cru 2016 (750ML)

94-97 VM / 94-96 WA / 93-95 BH

(from older vines and different plant material than the "regular" Malconsorts, on soil with more of a clay component): Healthy dark red. Dark and brooding on the reticent nose. Densely packed and extremely intense, with its youthfully medicinal dark berry, dark chocolate and saline mineral flavors only hinting at the complexity to come. Boasts grand cru volume and breadth but extremely backward today. Most impressive right now on the dense, saline back end, which displays rich, seamless tannins and outstanding slow-mounting length. This vineyard typically ripens its fruit very quickly, noted Sieve. Stephen Tanzer – Vinous media

The 2016 Vosne-Romanee 1er Cru Les Malconsorts Christiane, picked on the same day as the regular Malconsorts, has a touch more new oak than the regular cuvée and two-thirds whole cluster fruit. It has a very well defined bouquet with black cherry, blueberry, raspberry and iris scents, less of the woodland element perhaps. The palate is well balanced with fine tannin, crisp and taut with beautiful black, mineral-rich fruit toward the precise finish. Again, it will require several years in bottle to really show what it can do. Neal Martin – The Wine Advocate

Tasting note: As is usually the case this is quite aromatically similar to the regular cuvée except that it's always a bit spicier though in 2016, it's also a bit more overtly floral. The similarly scaled flavors possess a bit more minerality as well with excellent muscle and power on the driving and wonderfully long finish that is slightly more structured too. This should be brilliant in time. Outstanding - Allen Meadows - Burghound