2011 Chambolle Musigny Vieilles Vignes

Deep, dark red. An elixir of dark berries on the nose, with complicating notes of crushed stone, menthol and flowers. Thick but weightless and youthfully imploded, with an element of spicy acidity giving outstanding cut and primary character to the blackberry and blueberry fruit flavors. Finishes dense and strong, with powerful tannic support and late hints of espresso and bitter chocolate. Fully ripe in the context of the vintage, and built for an extended evolution in bottle.

The 2011 Musigny Vieilles Vignes shows wonderful energy in its expressive floral notes. Sweet red-hued fruit turns darker in the glass, but it is really the wine's energy that stands out most. Overall, this is a fairly mid-weight vintage for the Musigny deeply marked by its resonance and balance. The 2011 is perhaps a bit less epic than some recent versions, but it certainly delivers considerable pleasure.

(racked a couple weeks prior to my visit): Saturated dark red. Fully ripe aromas of black raspberry, crushed stone, mocha, chocolate and spices. Horizontal on the attack, then superrich yet somehow vibrant too, showing excellent lift to the palate-saturating flavors of cassis, pomegranate and spices. Shows a jellied sweetness cut by a taste of limestone. Finishes savory, sweet and very long, with noble tannins and a piquant hint of red grapefruit. Really leaves the taste buds quivering.