Bonnes Mares, Domaine Comte Georges de Vogüé 2013

**Note: from a 2.67 ha parcel situated entirely in terres rouges soil in the south-west portion of the vineyard**
Deep ruby color. This is more deeply pitched still and even more reserved though aggressive swirling liberates a wonderfully complex array of plum and black raspberry liqueur-like aromas where added breadth is present in the form of spice, earth, pepper, dried flowers and a hint of underbrush. The dense, powerful and broad-shouldered flavors brim with dry extract that imparts a velvety mouth feel to the vibrant finale as well as pushes the very firm core of tannins to the background. This is a big but beautifully well-balanced wine that should amply reward up to 20 years of cellaring.

This must be the first time that I have tasted the Bonnes-Mares from barrel and thought it could be mistaken for the Musigny! The 2013 Bonnes-Mares Grand Cru has an intense black pepper and blackberry bouquet, touches of mint and forest floor in the background, growing in intensity in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with tensile and quite obdurate tannin, the acidity finely tuned and cutting through the surfacing blueberry and blackberry fruit. There is plenty of spice furnishing the finish and lingering long after the wine has departed, completing a seriously fine Bonnes-Mares that is stylish and intellectual.