2014 Echezeaux

The 2014 Echézeaux Grand Cru has a similar nose to the 2014 Vosne Beaumonts, that is to say, a mixture of red and black fruit with sous-bois and autumn leaf scents lending this complexity (these probably emanating from the 20% whole bunch fruit). The palate is medium-bodied with quite firm tannin, black cherries, raspberry, sea salt and a little quince, broadening out towards the finish that is tensile but remains quite broody. There is a sense of nascent confidence about this Echézeaux from Maxime Chuerlin.

Moving just down slope to Les Cruots we find the terroir of the Georges Noëllat Echezeaux. The nose offers a very floral expression of fruit and minerality – notes of raspberries, pomegranate and boysenberries – layered and complex with an intense filigree minerality. On the palate more tight and intense, with a quite forward and powerful minerality infused with cool, delicate and airy red fruits … it’s focused, long and defined, offering all one could want from a top Echezeaux – now rivalling the efforts from Liger-Belair, Grivot, Rouget and DRC. Nov 2015, www.winehog.org, Drink: 2026+

(from 100+-year-old vines, the oldest of the domain, in Les Cruots; Cheurlin vinified with 20% whole clusters, destemming the rest of the fruit by hand): Good deep red. Profound nose combines sappy raspberry, smoky minerals, game, underbrush and dried flowers. Offers superb concentration of fruits and minerals in an utterly seamless package. Wonderfully thick and vibrant, finishing with great energy and lift (these were the first vines picked here in 2014). Very tight in the early going, though--my scoring range may turn out to be overly conservative. Jan 2016, www.vinous.com