| Region | |
|---|---|
| Subregion | France > Burgundy > Côte de Nuits > Morey-Saint-Denis |
| Colour | Red |
| Type | Still |
Bottled in March 2018. 90% whole bunch fermentation. Medium depth of pink purple colour. Lively and fresh, a little redcurrant alongside the raspberry. The sense of elegance is absolutely there, with lively fresh cherry notes. No more than medium body but that is fine. Light white pepper, medium tannins, quite graceful. pH 3.46 shows that there is good acidity.
Still a little closed after its recent bottling, the 2016 Clos des Lambrays Grand Cru exhibits aromas of cassis, raspberries, currant leaf and potpourri. On the palate, it's medium to full-bodied, ample and layered, with fine-grained tannins, creditable concentration and juicy acids, concluding with a fragrant finish. This isn't as deep or multidimensional as the 2015 rendition, but it's an elegant middle-weight Clos des Lambrays that should drink well for 20 years or more. Morey-Saint-Denis was spared hail in this vintage, and 2016 thus delivered the largest yield recorded at the Clos since 1999. It was vinified with around 85% whole cluster, and the finished pH of 3.46 is only a touch lower than the 2015's pH of 3.48.
An overtly floral suffused nose offers up ripe aromas of red currant, rose petal, plum and a hint of exotic spice. There is first-rate punch to the bigger and richer yet still well-defined medium weight plus flavors that possess impressive length on the nicely complex and dusty finish. Fine if not remarkable quality.
A racy style, defined by bracing acidity propelling the black currant, blackberry, iron, earth and spice flavors to a lingering conclusion. Balanced and full of energy, this needs time to really settle in and reveal all its facets in a harmonious way. Best from 2022 through 2043. From France.
Transparent garnet – one of the lightest wines so far. Very pretty and extremely fragrant and winning. Gentle with resolved tannins and perhaps a little more freshness than some but a real charmer. After some raspberry fruit there is an undertow of structure and perhaps a note of orange peel? Lots of juicy fruit but with real delicacy. Quite deceptive because you could drink this straight away but it clearly has the structure for a long life. 13.5%. Drink 2024 – 2043
The grand cru here was raised in fifty percent new oak this year and is one of the stars of the 2016 vintage. The stunning bouquet delivers a complex combination of red and black cherries, black plums, pigeon, dark soil tones, raw cocoa, woodsmoke and a touch of nutty oak. On the palate the wine is pure, full-bodied and shows off beautiful depth at the core, with plenty of sappiness in reserve, a great soil signature, ripe, suave tannins and a very, very long, nascently complex and vibrant finish. I love this wine’s potential! Drink between 2030-2085
An overtly floral suffused nose offers up ripe aromas of red currant, rose petal, plum and a hint of exotic spice. There is first-rate punch to the bigger and richer yet still well-defined medium weight plus flavors that possess very good if not exceptional length on the nicely complex finish. This is certainly pretty but it doesn't appear, at least at this early juncture, to have the class and sheer substance of either the 2014 or the 2015. Time will of course tell but for the moment, I would describe the 2016 Clos des Lambrays as very good rather than excellent.
The 2016 Clos des Lambrays Grand Cru includes 85% whole-bunch fruit and is matured in 50% new oak. It was picked around 24 to 29 September. It has a fresh and discrete bouquet at first, the whole bunch influencing the red fruit, infusing scents of autumn leaves and Earl Grey into the mix. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, good grip in the mouth, building with time to a very composed, classically styled, quite persistent and lightly spiced finish whereby the whole bunch is completely subsumed by the fruit. Wonderful. Drink 2021-2045.
