Vosne Romanée Les Brûlées, Domaine Jean Grivot 2013

A classic Vosne nose is replete with a plethora of spice nuances along with black pinot fruit, lilac and soft wood hints. The vibrant and distinctly mineral-driven medium weight flavors are sleekly muscular yet they also possess a silky and refined mouth feel before culminating in a beautifully complex, well-balanced and wonderfully persistent finish. This is built-to-age and will need 12 to 15 years of bottle age to soften the firm tannic spine.

The 2013 Vosne-Romanee 1er Cru les Brûlées has a taut and slightly reticent nose at first, reluctantly opening with dark cherries and wild strawberry scents, the mineral/stony notes developing soon after. The palate is well balanced with lithe ripe strawberry and red cherry notes the belie that fine structure underneath. Nicely focused, I just would have liked a little more backbone toward the finish but still the terroir is articulated with great clarity and it may merit a higher evaluation once in bottle.