Francois Lamarche Grandes Echezeaux 2016 (750ML)

93-96 JM / 93-95 WA / 92-94 BH

The colour continues but this has the most evocative nose to date. Certainly floral but with lively cherry blossom and raspberry notes mixed in. Here the intensity which starts in the middle continues all the way through to an impressive finish. Ripe red fruits, yet finely balanced and very persistent. Tasted: October 2017—Jasper Morris, Inside Burgundy

Nicole told me she lost between 20% and 25% of the crop of her 2016 Grands Echézeaux Grand Cru this year. This is evident on the nose that has more fruit intensity and joie de vivre than the Echézeaux. It springs forth with Morello cherries, crushed strawberry and minerals, beautifully defined and focused. The palate is very well balanced with supple tannin, impressive depth (obviously not carried by any new oak) with a gentle but insistent grip toward the finish. I love the arching structure of this Grands Echézeaux carried mostly by the fruit tannin, plus the persistence on the finish. Superb.—Neal Martin, The Wine Advocate

Tasting note: Like the Les Cras, this is firmly reduced today and unreadable. And like the Clos de Vougeot the mid-palate of the slightly larger-scaled flavors is quite supple though this contrasts markedly with the powerful and borderline painfully intense finish that is at once mouth coating and hugely persistent. This appears deceptively approachable but the very firm tannic spine makes it clear that this is going to be a long-distance runner.—Allen Meadows, Burghound