A brooding yet pretty nose offers up timid whispers of floral, cassis, earth and dark berry fruit aromas that are trimmed in just enough wood to notice. There is a velvety and highly seductive mouth feel to the very rich large-scaled flavors that also possess plenty of sappy dry extract that does a very fine job of buffering the tannins on the hugely long and highly complex finale that displays a touch of youthful austerity. This is terrific and should drink well early though note that at least 7 to 10 years of bottle age will be necessary first.

The 2013 Clos Vougeot Grand Cru has a complex nose: black fruit, a touch of shucked oyster shell and a hint of Chinese hoisin. There is certainly impressive delineation here. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy black fruit but a little more “gourmand” than the Echezeaux with palpable salinity on the edgy, structured finish. This constitutes a more masculine Clos de Vougeot that will require 4-6 years in bottle.