Drouhin Laroze Bonnes Mares Grand Cru 2014 (750ML)

17+ JR / 90-93 BH / 90-92 WA

Rich and flattering fan of red-fruit flavours on the nose. Then a bit tight and hard with, even, a suggestion of bitterness. Needs lots of time? Jancis Robinson

Tasting note: A pungent nose of reduction and wood make the nose impossible to assess. The powerful, muscular and imposing big-bodied flavors possess excellent mid-palate concentration that coats the palate with dry extract, all wrapped in a slightly drying finish though again, I believe this is due to the gas and thus my range offers the benefit of the doubt.

The 2014 Bonnes-Mares Grand Cru includes around 35% whole bunch fruit and around 60% new oak. It has an open, quite transparent bouquet with mineral-tinged black fruit, a hint of Seville orange marmalade lurking in the background. The palate is medium-bodied with firm tannin that lends this Bonnes-Mares good backbone and a little more masculinity than previous vintages. I like the density here, but it just needs to "flow" a little more towards the strict, linear finish. Neal Martin – The Wine Advocate