La Grande Rue, Domaine Lamarche 2017

The 2017 La Grande Rue has a deep, introspective bouquet, offering more black fruit than red; touches of oyster shell and seaweed percolate through with time. The palate is where the quality shines through, in the filigreed tannins and the wonderful sense of symmetry. Fresh as a daisy without compromising intensity, especially on the pixelated finish, which seems to go on forever. Brilliant. This far exceeded my expectations. Tasted blind at the Burgfest 2017 tasting.

This is also quite floral with its array of violet, lavender and rose petal wisps that add considerable elegance to the very pretty mix of black pinot fruit, sandalwood and lovely spice elements. The mouthfeel of the medium weight plus flavors is finer than those of the Grands Echézeaux if not quite as powerful or muscular, all wrapped in a wonderfully long if slightly warm and austere finale. This is a big but balanced example of LGR and should age effortlessly.