La Grande Rue, Domaine Lamarche 2002

A reserved, even restrained nose is elegant, pure and cool while showing relatively little secondary character to its spicy black fruit aromas that are trimmed in just enough wood to notice. There is a lovely mouth feel to the rich, full and naturally sweet medium weight flavors blessed with fine precision and minerality on the vibrant if youthfully austere finish. Despite being close to its apogee, it seems clear that it has the balance to continue to age gracefully and should easily last another 20+ years. Tasted multiple times over the years with mostly consistent notes save for one very dull bottle that never did open up. (Drink starting 2023)

A reserved, even restrained nose that is elegant, pure and ripe as well as still 100% primary with its spicy black fruit aromas that complement perfectly the rich, full and naturally sweet medium weight plus flavors blessed with solid dry extract levels, all wrapped in a vibrant finish blessed with subtle minerality and impeccable balance. I really like the definition here and while a touch of backend wood remains, it does not compromise the overall sense of equilibrium. This is built to age and should easily last for 30 years.