2013 Clos de la Roche

Tasted blind at the Burgfest tasting in Beaune, the 2013 Clos de la Roche Grand Cru from Virgile Lignier has a vivid bouquet with animated blackberry and raspberry preserve aromas, fine mineralité and well integrated oak. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy red cherries and raspberry, sweet tannin, fine acidity and a juicy, quite structured finish with a generous pinch of white pepper spicing things up. This is a resounding success. Tasted September 2016.

Bright, dark red. Very complex, scented nose offers notes of black raspberry, licorice, herbs, mocha and earth; very pure despite a hint of reduction. Tightly coiled and energetic but with captivating pliancy of texture. This wine shows the depth and complexity the Clos Saint-Denis lacks, but then it's from vines planted in 1990 and 1947. Concentrated, sweet grand cru with ripe tannins and building length.