2016 Saint Veran Unique

Guffens’s vines in Saint-Véran were heavily hit by hail, with only one to two clusters per vine surviving. Those remaining grapes ripened rapidly, attaining 14.5% alcohol, and were also beset by rot. The resulting cuvée is impressive under the circumstances, but decidedly atypical, offering up a musky bouquet of peaches, honey and ripe Meyer lemons. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied, rich and open-knit and somewhat fat despite its impressively tangy acids. It's showing better than it did from barrel, but nature didn't conspire to make it one of Guffens's greatest hits.