2017 Morey St Denis Les Chaffots

The 2017 Morey-Saint-Denis Les Chaffots 1er Cru, from vines up to 90 years old, has a refined, quite floral bouquet, scents of peony tincturing the red fruit. The sorbet-fresh palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin, a citric line of acidity and a harmonious, elegant finish. Bon vin .

The 2017 Morey-Saint-Denis 1er Cru Les Chaffots reveals aromas of sweet cassis and cherries that mingle with nuances of cinnamon, licorice, dark chocolate and nori. On the palate, it's medium to full-bodied, layered and tangy, with a tauter, more acid-driven profile than the other premiers crus by virtue of its higher-altitude locate, displaying excellent concentration and high-quality structuring tannin.

Barrel sample. Just above Clos St-Denis and La Riotte, at 300 m elevation next to an old quarry and facing south-south-east. The lower part of the lieu-dit is in Clos St-Denis. 50-year-old vines. Well ventilated so no rot. 30% new oak and 20% whole bunch. Mid to deep cherry red. Deep and ripe on the nose, lovely intensity of dark-red cherry. On the palate, a little more chewy in texture but has marked freshness giving a precision on the finish. Dry finesse with juicy fruit and freshness are the markers here. (JH)