Joseph Drouhin Beaune 1er Cru Clos des Mouches Rouge 2015 (750ML)

92 VM / 91 BH

(vinified with a higher-than-normal 35% whole clusters): Healthy medium red. A touch of reduction dissipated to reveal explosive aromas of very ripe red berries, spices, earth, game, mocha and smoky minerality. Fat, full, smooth and mouthfilling, conveying strong terroir character and a noble rusticity to its flavors of cherry, red berries, menthol and underbrush. An expansive, round wine with lovely sucrosité but also very good energy for its alcohol in the high 13s. The late-arriving tannins are substantial but refined. A terrific Beaune wine from a very ripe year. At 18 hectoliters per hectare, the crop here was actually smaller than that of 2016, but last year Frédéric Drouhin nonetheless described it as "the first decent crop since 2011." Stephen Tanzer – Vinous Media

Tasting note: Here the nose is quite firmly reduced so be sure to decant it if you're yearning to try a bottle upon release. On the plus side there is a really lovely texture to the elegant and vibrant medium weight flavors that possess very fine complexity on the highly persistent finish where the only nit is a hint of warmth. Outstanding – Allen Meadows - Burghound