2018 Batard Montrachet
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Tasting notes
The 2018 Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru, which came from magnum, offers touches of popcorn and white peach on the nose, pretty with a dab of blackcurrant leaf emerging with aeration. The palate is well-balanced with a sappy, slightly pithy opening, fine acidity and good depth. A focused, tightly-wound finish suggests that more bottle age is necessary. Tasted blind at the Burgfest 2018 white tasting.
Critic scores
Average Score
Julia Harding MW, jancisrobinson.com
Neal Martin
More reviews and scores
Deep and muscular, the 2018 Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru wafts from the glass with aromas of pear, toasted nuts, orange oil and fresh pastry. On the palate, it's full-bodied, rich and textural, with a concentrated core of fruit, ripe acids and a long, honey finish. Readers who privilege power over tension will gravitate toward this, whereas the Genevrières-Dessus and Tête du Clos will appeal more to purists.
The 2018 Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru was picked on August 28, the first to be harvested this year. It tends to produce very small berries, according to Leroux, which is no doubt why the nose is very intense, with citrus fruit, lemon curd and light patisserie scents. The well-balanced palate is slightly viscous on the entry. Rich and powerful with an almost lactic, white chocolate and almond finish. One can see why this did not need any new oak. Very fine, though I prefer a couple of Leroux’s premier crus.