Vosne Romanée Cros Parantoux, Domaine Emmanuel Rouget 2020

The 2020 Vosne-Romanée Cros Parantoux 1er Cru, matured in seven new barrels, is beautifully-defined on the nose with precocious, penetrating dark cherry, raspberry and violet aromas that envelop the olfactory senses. The palate is harmonious and intense, silky-smooth in texture with better acidity and tension than some of Rouget's other cuvées. Layers of penetrating, sorbet-fresh red fruit are lavish yet very focused with a long and persistant peacock's tail finish. Wonderful. 14.5% alcohol according to Emmanuel Rouget.

The king of the cellar this year is the 2020 Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Cros Parantoux, a powerful but balanced wine that offers up aromas of cassis, cherries, sweet spices and dark chocolate. Full-bodied, layered and vibrant, it's a serious, structured wine with a concentrated core of fruit framed by firm but powdery tannins.