Pommard Rugiens, Domaine Michel Gaunoux 2018

A cooler and more elegant nose is dazzlingly pure with its elegant aromas of anise, essence of violet and rose petal, black cherry and an interesting hint of Asian-style tea. There is excellent power and underlying tension to the large-scaled flavors that possess a positively gorgeous mouthfeel while exhibiting stunningly good length on the stony, detailed and compact finale. This is picture perfect Rugiens. Note: from a .69 ha parcel Drink: 2036+

The 2018 Pommard 1er Cru Les Rugiens has also turned out beautifully, wafting from the glass with scents of plums, dark chocolate, peonies, orange rind and spices. Medium to full-bodied, deep and multidimensional, it's velvety and layered, balanced by lively acids and concluding with a long, mineral finish. If the domaine produced an unusually serious, concentrated Rugiens in 2017, they've produced an unusually suave, elegant Rugiens in 2018, making for a duo that it will be fascinating to compare for decades to come. 2028 - 2055