2008 Echezeaux

The From the iron-rich Rouge du Dessus sector at the upper-elevation margins of this cru, Lachaux’s 2008 Echezeaux is saturated with alkaline and smoky mineral character adumbrated even in the nose, and which – taken together with formidable tannins – makes for a relatively austere performance. That said, a complex, concentrated amalgam of red raspberry, brown spices, blond tobacco and game is not to be under-estimated, and I’m hoping that this is another instance of bottle shock temporarily hardening the tannins. In any case, this is going to demand patience of any who choose to cellar it. Jun 2010, www.robertparker.com