1971 Clos des Lambrays

An extraordinary wine in the prime of life, the 1971 Clos des Lambrays Grand Cru unfurls in the glass with a creamy bouquet of ripe cherries, dried red fruits, orange rind and a subtle touch of sweet leather and espresso. On the palate, the wine is medium to full-bodied, rich and tangy, with a deep, layered and multidimensional core of fruit balanced by superb acids. Analysis revealed it had only partially completed its malolactic fermentation, which perhaps accounts for the wine's spectacularly ripe but vibrant fruit. The 1971's dimension and concentration marked a dramatic departure from the vintages of the 1980s at this tasting.