2015 Ruchottes Chambertin

The 2015 Ruchottes-Chambertin Grand Cru is a genuine surprise, competing shoulder to shoulder with more auspicious names. It has a very pure, well-defined bouquet of black cherry, dark plum and mineral and light estuarine aromas. The palate is medium-bodied with fine, quite bold tannin, more black fruit than red, and tobacco and pencil lead toward a structured, masculine finish that gradually mellows with continued aeration. Good potential, but it will require several years in bottle. Tasted blind at the annual Burgfest tasting.